Scotty Stevenson: Misogyny? There's a test to prep for

Jenelle Strickland, who manages the NZ women's Sevens team, was the first woman to manage a top-level men's provincial rugby team when she took on the Tasman Makos in 2009.

Shall we talk about misogyny and its starring role in the test match build up this week? Nah, best not. Best we just avoid the subject altogether.

Let's get back to the on-field stuff. Let's just forget that the story of the week involved a high-performance athlete's humiliation and objectification of a member of his team's management, and just move on, okay?

Let's not give this any more thought. Let's just do what we always do in these situations and roll out that line about how these guys are young and sometimes they do stupid things and we all have done stupid things before and we're all only human and we've all made mistakes. Three cheers for the obvious truth. Hands up who hasn't made a mistake... See, we're all in the same boat.

There's nothing to see here anyway. Come on, the apology was accepted at the time, so there's no reason to be dragging this all up now, is there? This is an important player in the team et cetera. He has the backing of the senior players et cetera. What the hell was a woman doing here anyway? That's the only question that need be asked. Let's ask it!

Yes! Let's ask it! That's the important question. Who is this woman who thinks she's running the show here? What are her credentials? Oh, she was appointed by the Australian Rugby Union on the recommendation of the coach?

Oh! Well, screw that! She must be dodgy as all hell if a footy player is sending those messages about her to his teammates. What do you mean he's not the best character reference? His motivations were completely transparent. They must have been: he cc'd her on that vile picture so she could see exactly where she stood.

Stop! Let's not go there. Let's just forget it all and ignore the personal toll bullying takes in the workplace, which is exactly what a professional sports team environment is, by the way, a workplace. Let's not think of it as sexual harassment, because that's entirely too confronting. This was just a bit of banter. If you can't handle that kind of banter then you shouldn't be here. Besides, the real crime was committed by that coach who saw fit to personally escort a distressed staff member to the airport. What was he thinking?

Yes, let's ask that too. That's another important question. What was he thinking? While he was off with some helpless woman who couldn't handle herself in this high-performance sporting environment, there were 30 or so high-performance athletes sitting back in a lush training facility without a clue what to do. How can a coach be so cavalier as to leave, for a couple of hours, 30 grown men to think for themselves? That guy is sending entirely the wrong message. This is a sports team, not a place for compassion or common decency.

Heaven forbid anyone trying to put the advance, or the fair, into Australia.

So no, let's not talk about misogyny at all. Let's condemn the abused and defend the abuser. Let's just pretend there is no issue at all and if we can't do that then at least let's just pretend we have bigger issues, like concussions. They can lead to serious problems, unlike harassment, bullying and sexual objectification, which ain't nothing.

So let's get back to talking about the attractive game of rugby. The egalitarian game! The game for all shapes and sizes! The game for hooligans played by gentlemen! All this other stuff is just a distraction.

And you don't need any of those when it comes to test match week, do you.

Three women at the top of their game

Jenelle Strickland

The manager of the New Zealand women's Sevens team, Strickland was the first woman to manage a top flight men's provincial rugby team when she assumed the role of manager for the Tasman Makos in 2009. Strickland also held the professional development manager role for the province.

New Zealand coach Sean Horan says Strickland has a mandate to oversee every detail of the operation, undertakes her work with distinction and has the utmost respect from staff and players.

Raelene Castle

The former head of Netball New Zealand and now CEO of NRL club the Bulldogs, Raelene Castle is widely considered the poster-child for the changing face of professional rugby league.

Dubbed "Aunty" by the club's Polynesian players, Castle is listed among the 50 most influential women in Australia, and agitates for change in the way clubs adhere to codes of conduct. She has worked assiduously to prepare a review of the Bulldogs' integrity structures to safeguard the club for future years.

Kereyn Smith

An impassioned and influential CEO, Kereyn Smith guides the New Zealand Olympic Committee with confidence and credibility, having brought more than two decades of sport-related management experience when she assumed the role of CEO and secretary-general in 2011. Unassuming and gregarious, Smith is as much at home with her team in the NZOC's Auckland offices as she is around the boardroom.