Editorial: Leave the ABs' silver fern as it is

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When the Rugby World Cup begins in September, more than six months will have elapsed since the catastrophic Christchurch earthquake.

That is not a long time. The wounds of those who lost loved ones in the disaster will be far from healed; the scars on the face of the city itself will barely have begun to be smoothed away. But it will be well past time for sentimental gestures.

That's why the Cantabrian All Black captain Richie McCaw has no time at all for the suggestion that the silver fern on the team's jersey's be changed to red during the tournament, as a tribute to the people of Canterbury.

"I don't think that's a goer at all," he said this week. "Canterbury people don't expect things like that."

PM John Key (speedily seconded by Labour leader Phil Goff) came up with the idea for the "symbolic gesture" on Monday. Key said at the time that it was "not unusual for the All Blacks to slightly change their uniform to reflect a major event".

He did not elaborate, but if they have done so, the change must have been slight indeed since it completely escaped the notice of even the keenest rugby-watchers.

The ABs have worn black armbands on occasion and wear non-black jerseys when playing at home against nations, such as Scotland, whose colours may be hard to distinguish from black.

But the black jersey and the silver fern are elements of a uniform that truly deserve that overused word iconic.

It was diplomatic of All Blacks manager Darren Shand to say the team would "consider" the idea, but they should treat it on its merits and let it be quietly forgotten.

There will be no shortage of recognition for Christchurch come cup time, not least because Canterbury is the heartland of New Zealand rugby in this era. But changing the strip is a silly idea.