Shouldnâ€™t all sledging stay on the field?

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AT the risk of being strung upside down and burned at the stake, we're going to mount a fair and reasonable argument about why David Pocock broke one of the unwritten rules of professional sport last Sunday by complaining to the referee about Jacques Potgieter.

Relax, in no way, shape or form are we condoning homophobia.

It's the 21st century.

But when you consider we've been told Potgieter delivered a variety of other cutting sledges about various family members of several Brumbies players, it begs the question: shouldn't what happens on the field stay on the field?

David Pocock complained about slurs made by Jacques Potgieter. Source: Supplied

It's professional sport, not the balcony seats at the opera. Suck it up and go and get square with a legitimate hard shot as retribution.

Or, if you feel so strongly about whatever the on-field vilification was, grab Potgieter in the dressing rooms afterwards and tell him that sort of thinking is completely off tap.

If Potgieter was standing in the middle of Oxford St during mardi gras yelling similar obscenities, then throw the book at him. But there are far better ways to raise awareness than going down the whistleblower route of complaining to the referee.

Elite sport is rich with examples of fierce on-field verbal confrontations. Google Glenn McGrath and Ramnaresh Sarwan, Michael Clarke and Jimmy Anderson or Ian Botham and Rod Marsh and the language served up will be enough to part your hair over breakfast.

Did any of them lodge an official complaint?

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One of rugby union's most famous sledges was when a teenage Tim Horan was making his Wallaby debut and a well-known All Black made some extremely disparaging remarks about a female member of Horan's family.

Did you see Horan approaching the referee?

Or what about Michael Ennis and Nathan Hindmarsh in the NRL in 2011. The Eels legend was furious at himself for taking Ennis's bait. When quizzed about it after the match, he summed it up brilliantly. "He's just a grub," was all Hindmarsh was prepared to offer. Perhaps Pocock would have been better served letting his actions speak louder than words. Just saying.

KIWI ANTHEM TO RING OUT

ANZAC Day is already one of the most celebrated days on the Australian and New Zealand calendar, now the NRL is planning a special tribute to further enhance the 100-year centenary celebrations.

In a wonderful recognition of the sacrifice and contribution of the Kiwi armed forces, the New Zealand national anthem will be introduced at every Anzac Day match this year.

Pre-match ANZAC Day ceremony at the Roosters and Dragons game. Source: News Corp Australia

Already widely recognised as one of the most sacrosanct days of the year, April 25 will now feature renditions of The Last Post, Advance Australia Fair and God Defend New Zealand at all eight fixtures over the Anzac Day weekend.

The development comes after a public push from Kiwi stars Jason Nightingale and Shaun Kenny-Dowall last year.

The NRL subsequently approached the RSL and armed forces to request the New Zealand anthem be included as part of the celebrations.

New Zealand international Nightingale applauded the move, which the NRL intends to implement permanently.

"It's very exciting," Nightingale said. "We all honour the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps on Anzac Day and it will make the day even more special.

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"When you consider the majority of the NRL is made up of players from Australia and New Zealand, it also makes sense from that perspective.

"The Anzac Day matches are a small way of us saying thank you for the sacrifice all the men and women from Australia and New Zealand made all those years ago.

"It's a special part of our history and hopefully by singing both anthems it will only help to highlight what the day means to Australia and New Zealand."

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THE epic semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa in the cricket World Cup peaked at an audience of 678,000 viewers on Fox Sports.

That's a massive number in pay TV land, especially considering Australia were not involved in the match.

One issue that wasn't quite so well received was the ICC official pitch inspector, Essex-born Andy Atkinson, putting pressure on well-respected SCG curator Tom Parker ahead of Friday's semi-final at the SCG. With all due respect, what would a bloke from Essex know about preparing the hallowed turf at Moore Park.

Imran Tahir of South Africa looks on as Grant Elliott hugs Dale Steyn after winning the Cricket World Cup Semi final. Source: Getty Images

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AFTER three years of verbal exchanges, it appears Anthony Mundine will finally glove up against Austin Trout in the US on May 9. In classic boxing style, Trout announced the fight earlier this week, only for Mundine to declare the deal was not yet finalised because neither had signed the paperwork.

Once the contracts are exchanged, expect The Man to hype things up. The pair was to fight three years ago but the bout fell through and both blamed each other. Surprise, surprise.

Anthony Mundine celebrates after winning against Sergey Rabchenko. Picture: Jake Nowakowski Source: News Corp Australia

BEST OF SPORTS COME OUT TO BACK THE AUSSIES

IT was a who's who at the cricket World Cup semi-final on Thursday, with ex-Prime Minister John Howard and his wife Janette, Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes, Wallaby Bernard Foley, SCG Trustee Katie Page and Gerry Harvey, ARLC chairman John Grant, NRL head of football Todd Greenberg and Sydney Rooster Jared Waerea-Hargreaves all spied soaking up the massive sporting spectacle.

In the spirit of embracing the international event, Sydney Swan Kurt Tippett, Sydney Rooster Jake Friend, Wallaby and Waratah Nick Phipps and Sydney FC's Alex Gersback were all decked out in gold in support of Michael Clarke and the Australian team.

Jake Friend, Kurt Tippett, Nick Phipps, and Alex Gersbach throw their support behind the Aussies. pic. Phil Hillyard Source: News Corp Australia

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THE Golden Slipper carnival continues at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday with another all-star cast lined-up on and off the track.

ATC ambassador Peter Sterling and Australian cricket selector Mark Waugh will host Lunching With Legends, while on the track Japanese superstar To The World will start a short-priced favourite.

VETERAN BOMBER IS MORNING SORTIE

BROADCASTING icon Alan Jones showed the art of the talkback radio ambush can still be as cutting as ever, tackling AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan from the blindside last Friday morning.

McLachlan's AFL minders had agreed for the CEO to appear on Jones's program on 2GB to talk about the upcoming season.

But the king of breakfast radio had other ideas, taking the CEO to task about how the AFL had attempted to "bury" Essendon Bombers coach James Hird over the performance-enhancing supplements saga.

It was captivating radio, with Jones extremely well-researched and McLachlan caught floundering on more than one occasion.

Bombers head coach James Hird talks to assistant coach Matthew Egan. Source: Getty Images

MEN OF LEAGUE BACKING FAIRY'S FIGHT

THE Men of League continue to do wonderful work for ex-players in need, with Easts Leagues Club to host a tribute lunch for dual international Russell Fairfax today.

Fairfax has undergone two major brain operations in the past six months and the spiralling medical expenses are a constant challenge. Enter the Men of League, who hastily arranged a lunch for 350 guests, with champions like Ron Coote and Bob McCarthy only too happy to lend Fairfax a hand.

Russell Fairfax has undergone two major brain operations in the past six months. Source: Supplied

In a sign of how popular Fairfax is, the event sold out in nine days and donations have continued to flood in.

Another champion the Men of League helped send to the US for a radical stroke treatment last year is John "Bomber" Peard, who will feature in a Sunday Night report on Channel Seven this weekend.

Seven host Chris Bath visited the US with Peard to show how a revolutionary treatment at the Institute of Neurological Recovery in California will hopefully improve Peard's quality of life.

WINNING

FAIR play to the Kiwis and South African-born Grant Elliott, whose magnificent 84no, complete with a second-last ball six, to catapult New Zealand to victory single-handedly resuscitated the cricket World Cup. The loss means South Africa are still to reach a World Cup final and will no doubt consign them to a torturous four years branded as chokers, until the next tournament. The fact Elliott was born in Johannesburg will only add to the pain.

New Zealand batsman Grant Elliot. Source: AFP

DUNCE CAP

SYDNEY FC have reported a ticketing rort to the police, with the club discovering an individual who has been buying children's tickets and then reselling them at adult prices via online agency Viagogo. Club CEO Tony Pignata confirmed FC had contacted police to investigate, with fans warned to triple check tickets before buying online. "We're not happy about it, it's absolutely not right but thankfully it's only a small minority," he said.

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SPOTTED

MICHAEL Clarke and Shane Warne were spied deep in discussion at the Azure cafe at Allianz Stadium last Tuesday.

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UP on the northern peninsula last Saturday night, star Sea Eagles Brett Stewart and Willie Mason enjoying a beer at the Manly Wharf Bar.

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AND in Adelaide, Bombers star signing Kevin Sheedy was spied talking up Greater Western Sydney and how they were the sleeping giant of the AFL.