2019 Rugby World Cup: Keith Quinn says comment calling for two female reporters to be 'sacked' was 'meant to be a joke'

Keith Quinn has been criticised on Twitter following his comments during the All Blacks' Pool B clash against Namibia. Photo / NZME

Renowned former sports commentators Keith Quinn has responded to the furore his social media post caused on Sunday, by saying it was "meant to be a joke".

Quinn was heavily criticised for a tweet seemingly calling for two female reporters on Spark Sport's broadcast team to be "sacked" for their coverage of the All Blacks' Pool B match against Namibia.

Referring to TJ Perenara's late try in the All Blacks' romp in Tokyo, labelled as "one of the great Rugby World Cup tries" by some, Quinn tweeted: "Great try and superb pic but two reporters on TVNZ & Skynz (presumably Spark Sport) later called great 'great rugby league tries!' Whaaat?" Quinn wrote on Twitter. "Sack those two women. (I have their names!)"

This sparked backlash, including from Spark Sport's lead commentator Scotty "Sumo" Stevenson.

Stevenson replied to Quinn's tweet, seemingly to defend his colleagues.

"Excuse me? "Those two women" are entitled to describe that play in any way they see fit, and offending your sensibilities is thankfully not a sackable offence," said Stevenson.

Excuse me? “Those two women” are entitled to describe that play in any way they see fit, and offending your sensibilities is thankfully not a sackable offence. https://t.co/Uu3NdZ8d2d

— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) October 6, 2019

Great try and superb pic but two reporters on TVNZ & Skynz later called great ‘great rugby league tries!’ Whaaat?
Sack those two women. (I have their names!)

— Keith Quinn (@KeithQuinn88) October 6, 2019

On Monday afternoon, Quinn took to Twitter, however, saying it was all a misunderstanding.

"My tweet last night re the TJ Perenara try was meant to be a joke about rugby union v rugby league. TJs try was a great rugby union try at a Rugby Union World Cup. (I should have put 'lol' on the tweet.)."

My tweet last night re the TJ Perenara try was meant to be a joke about rugby union v rugby league. TJs try was a great rugby union try at a Rugby Union World Cup. (I should have put ‘lol’ on the tweet.)

— Keith Quinn (@KeithQuinn88) October 7, 2019

In an interview with the Herald last month, Stevenson said that he wanted to be like Quinn when he 10 years old.