Chris Rattue: Respect must be earned

The crowd behaviour at Eden Park last Saturday deserves condemnation.

The public will suffer if crowd restrictions result, and sport stars must be able to operate in safe environments. It was a national cringe.

However, the Australian cricketers might reflect on their own behaviour when it comes to earning respect.

Their recent poll which included naming Billy Bowden as the worst international umpire was a disgrace, an arrogant response from spoilt brats smarting after losing the Ashes.

To recap, three-quarters of Australia's 25 contracted players rated Bowden as the worst.

Hey fellas. If you're going to sling that sort of mud, then stick your individual names to it.

Don't cower behind an association representing so-called professionals, a body which should have better things to do than ask such a demeaning question in the first place. Umpiring standards deserve far more considered treatment.

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Surprise, surprise. Laurie Mains rated Keven Mealamu as one of the two outright stars of the All Blacks' Grand Slam, along with rising halfback Piri Weepu.

For sure, Mealamu had a reasonable tour. But to be rated thus seemed over the top ... then the penny dropped. Mealamu vies for the hooking spot with Anton Oliver. Mains and Oliver are - most famously - not the best of friends.