Wynne Gray: Murky questions - but few answers

Kia Ora. Sorry for not using that greeting before and, while we're on that theme, how about an apology from the All Blacks for their rest and rotation policy during the last World Cup campaign?

Murky question, the old race and rugby business. But there has been an apology to Maori affected by their exclusion from New Zealand teams because of South Africa's apartheid regime. Happenstance, politically motivated, good timing, carefully calculated in this centenary year for Maori rugby?

It does not matter. The apologies have been delivered from both New Zealand and South Africa for the non-selection of Maori on tours to the republic.

Curiously there have been players chosen for the Maori side who did not qualify. Lock Daryl Williams was a classic case - a good athlete of Fijian and Samoan connections who was picked for the team about 20 years ago until his mother revealed his bloodlines did not allow his inclusion.

Long-time All Black centre Frank Bunce played for Auckland Maori when his ancestry connected him to Niue and Samoa. There were also doubts expressed by staunch proponent Billy Bush about the racial qualifications of Christian Cullen, Tasesa Lavea and a number of others chosen in New Zealand Maori squads.

There was apparently no doubt, though, about the authenticity of the fair-skinned duo Lee Stensness and Tony Brown. But there are still dramas.

A journalist colleague rang the NZRU the other day to inquire about the Maori squad and those who would be eligible for selection in their three-match programme next month.

You would think the NZRU would hold a register of those qualified for the Maori for the selectors to consider for that programme against Ireland and England next month. The query was related to Rene Ranger, the outside back from the Blues who has Cook Islands ancestry. It should have been easy enough to locate a list and give a response. The questioner is still waiting.

Just as we all are for some sort of decision about the officials who will be used during this year's Super 14 playoffs.

During round-robin matches, the tournament's organisers picked referees based on ability and perceived competence rather than a desire for national neutrality. It made economic and scheduling sense.

That policy has hit a few speedhumps, such as Marius Jonker's control of the Bulls game last week against the Crusaders. He made some decisions which favoured the Bulls in the crucial late minutes, but the biggest decision came from a linesman.

If Sanzar thinks we should revert to neutral referees for every match, shouldn't that apply to linesmen and television match officials too?

Imagine the cost, with no guarantee they would be any better than local touchies. And how will it all pan out next year, when the Super 15 is played in domestic pools before it splits into overseas games and extended playoffs?