Editorial: Kind act needs to be put into context

Sonny Bill Williams kind act to fan Charlie Line has been met with both praise and criticism.

Sonny Bill Williams made an on-the-spot decision in unique circumstances when he gave his Rugby World Cup medal away on Sunday.

The decision has attracted praise and criticism.

Bear in mind that SBW was acting, perhaps not in the heat of the moment, but certainly in an emotionally charged moment.

SBW's medal went to 14-year-old Charlie Line who broke the Twickenham rules and jumped a security barrier and ran towards SBW as players walked around the stadium.

A security guard did what he was paid to do and tackled Charlie. The guard didn't have time to make a discretionary decision about how to deal with Charlie - he did the right thing, even if it looks a little harsh on video. He responded quickly to a security breach and a potential threat.

SBW saw things from another perspective and realised the threat was minor.

He walked Charlie back to his seat and then gave him his RWC medal.

The escort from SBW, a friendly man hug, the beanie that Liam Messam stuck on Charlie's head, and maybe a selfie would probably have been enough. After all, Charlie broke a few rules.

It is harsh to suggest that SBW was being deliberately respectful with his gift, and somehow cheapening the medal, and what it stood for. He was trying to be nice.

With the benefit of hindsight, the security guard wouldn't flatten a 14-year-old fan and SBW would have kept his medal - a smile and a selfie would have sufficed.

It was an act of kindness informed by what he had seen, and influenced by emotions that not many people get to experience. In that regard, many of us - me included - are certainly entitled to express our views on what happened.

But until we too get to win a RWC final, and experience those thought clouding emotions, we probably remain poorly qualified to pass judgment on the act.