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Michael Fatialofa's wife has made an important request on Instagram

Michael Fatialofa is removed from the field in London in early January (Photo by Henry Browne/Getty Images)

Michael Fatialofa’s wife Tatiana has shared a lengthy message on Instagram calling on people to keep helping her stricken husband by praying for him. 

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The 27-year-old New Zealander has been in hospital in London since being stretchered off in a neck brace during Worcester Warriors’ 62-5 Gallagher Premiership defeat at Saracens. 

After Fatialofa underwent surgery on Monday night to relieve pressure on his spinal cord caused by swelling, his club Worcester issued a statement on Tuesday. 

“The operation was a success and Michael is stable but remains in a serious condition and receiving ongoing care at the intensive care unit of the hospital. The process of recovery and observation of improvement will now begin,” they said. 

His wife Tatiana has now called on people to continue to help Fatialofa through prayer. Taking to Instagram to post an update from the hospital in London, she wrote: “When the lights go out and this all fades for everyone else, our world will still be standing still & twisted upside down. 

(Continue reading below…)

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“That’s why we ask for prayers now, knowing they will be what sustains us in the days, weeks, months + years to come when the real work begins. This isn’t “news” this is @michaelfats LIFE! Our life! Our future children’s life! 

“We are otherwise two very keep-to-ourselves humans connected to extremely tight-knit aiga/communities, and we’ve never cared for the fuss, but — when crisis hits our shores it’s out of the desperation and humility of my heart to call on others to stand in the gap for my darling husband, and see that God gets maximum glory through this brutal situation. 

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When the lights go out and this all fades for everyone else, our world will still be standing still & twisted upside down. That’s why we ask for prayers now, knowing they will be what sustains us in the days, weeks, months + years to come when the real work begins. This isn’t “news” this is @michaelfats LIFE! Our life! Our future children’s life (you best believe we will be able to have anau of our own one day)! We are otherwise two very keep-to-ourselves humans connected to extremely tight-knit aiga/communities, and we’ve never cared for the fuss, but — when crisis hits our shores it’s out of the desperation and humility of my heart to call on others to stand in the gap for my darling husband, and see that God gets maximum glory through this brutal situation. I need every prayer warrior willing enough to fight for 24/7 access ??? If you know us, we are that couple who do EVERYTHING together & I mean inseparably so. We are ONE, so restrictively being apart for 14+ hours a day with limited visiting (with the potential for even stricter hours as he eventually moves through wards) is an absolute NO!!! When have evidently seen that when we are together – he’s been stable & progressive. When we are apart – he deteriorates in some way. It’s the same when his loved ones are present too. We simply cannot have any barriers to being in proximity at all times! Our Pasifika know that FAMILIES ALWAYS STICK TOGETHER, we do not leave eachother’s sides. We are not raised as individuals, we belong to one collective whole — the village. And a village separated is weak. So, help us unite our village because we only do STRONG!!! ?????? #UNITY

A post shared by TATIANA (@tatianafats) on

“I need every prayer warrior willing enough to fight for 24/7 access. If you know us, we are that couple who do EVERYTHING together & I mean inseparably so. We are ONE, so restrictively being apart for 14+ hours a day with limited visiting (with the potential for even stricter hours as he eventually moves through wards) is an absolute NO!!! 

“When have evidently seen that when we are together – he’s been stable & progressive. When we are apart – he deteriorates in some way. It’s the same when his loved ones are present too. We simply cannot have any barriers to being in proximity at all times! 

“Our Pasifika know that FAMILIES ALWAYS STICK TOGETHER, we do not leave each other’s sides. We are not raised as individuals, we belong to one collective whole — the village. And a village separated is weak. So, help us unite our village because we only do STRONG!!!”

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Bull Shark 44 minutes ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


Errors and Ommissions accepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

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