Who'd be a columnist?
More specifically, who'd be a columnist who dares label the All Blacks haka a ritual with ugly connotations that has no place in world sport?
Sydney Morning Herald columnist Paul Sheehan did just that the very next morning after the All Blacks' heart stopping World Cup final victory, then quite rightly, felt the wrath of expatriate New Zealanders for his efforts.
To give you some perspective, Sheehan wrote rugby people grossly over-rate their sport as a world sport, and the throat-slitting gesture by some All Blacks at the end of the haka was an ugly metaphor, with ugly connotations, and had no place in world sport.
Thanks to the internet, readers could express their thoughts on the writers topic in the comments section below Sheehan's online column.
Here's just a taste of the tirade his column triggered;
''Reeks of bitterness'', ''incoherent rubbish'', ''you are just bitter that you were beaten'', ''narrow minded'', ''trash'', ''racist stereotype'', ''narcissistic, culturally disrespectful'', ''racist slurs'', ''a horrifying article'', ''you want to take away the haka'', ''absolute garbage'', ''of such a low standard'', ''a good old-fashioned Kiwi-bash'', ''please tell me this isn't your day job!!'', ''nonsense'', ''little man reaction to getting beat'', ''embarrassing'', ''an ignorant, churlish racist'', ''self-deluded and out of touch with reality'', ''old, tired, xenophobic, ill-informed gutter journalism'', and a ''bitter and twisted load of drivel''
Do you think Sheehan touched a raw nerve in our Kiwi expat community?
Well, he does now. According to Sheehan's own stats, his column usually attracts around 150 comments each time he posts.
But taking aim at the haka saw more than 560 New Zealanders take aim at Sheehan.
For a columnist, the choice of topic had the desired outcome in terms of interest.
The problem is, with 5-600,000 New Zealanders now living in Australia, Sheehan will probably be looking over his shoulder from now on.
Sleep easy Mr Sheehan.
Read more Steve Marshall opinion
Steve Marshall is the ONE News Australia correspondent
