Recag/C4_44 · Datasets at Hugging Face

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“Earth Shine,” shared in the Boing Boing Flickr Pool.
Mr Justice Warby today demolished the libel case brought by former MP Tim Yeo and sided pretty much 100 per cent behind The Sunday Times.
He ruled the paper's report that Yeo was prepared to act as a paid Parliamentary advocate for a Far East solar energy company was true and that it was based on responsible journalism.
He was clearly impressed by the testimony of Sunday Times Insight editor Jonathan Calvert and his former deputy Heidi Blake. And he described Yeo’s evidence as “dishonest” in places.
More than two years after the initial piece was published, on 9 June 2013, Yeo faces paying at least £400,000 in costs to The Sunday Times, as well as his own legal fees which will have been considerable.
As Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens said today: “This is a victory for investigative journalism. It vindicates the role of the press in exposing the clandestine advocacy by MPs for undisclosed interests."
The judgment notes that Yeo made £80,700 a year from his work as an MP. His various outside interests included work as a non-executive director of various energy-related companies which earned him just under £200,000 a year.
He was snagged by The Sunday Times after Blake emailed him on 13 May 2013 claiming to represent a “leading edge solar technology developer in the Far East”. She claimed to be offering “an extremely generous remuneration package including a quarterly bonus”.
There followed a lunch meeting between Blake, Calvert and Yeo in which they posed as lobbyists and which formed the basis for the story.
Yeo was “fronted up” about the story shortly after 9pm on the Friday before publication and given until 4pm the following day to respond.
Interestingly, Judge Warby ruled that this was a reasonable length of time for him to respond.
He said: “A story of this kind, containing what for this purpose I assume to be information which the public is entitled to receive, is not of such special urgency as to make it necessary to provide a short period for pre-publication comment. Such a story is however peculiarly vulnerable to having its impact undermined by spoiling tactics. The subject of the story has a strong incentive to engage in tactics of that kind, and so do competitors.
"The risks are exacerbated if the story is objectively sensational and the subject is someone, such as an experienced MP, well versed in the mechanisms for managing or influencing the news. If the impact of such a story is dissipated the public interest is harmed. It attracts less attention, and there is some waste of the resources of the media organisation that has created it.
But the judge said: “I am quite unable to accept this evidence. I accept that Mr Yeo is genuinely interested in green technology, and that he has given advice and help to some in this field without seeking or accepting any material reward.
“However, the 13 May email was short and clear. It was plainly suggesting a consultancy with generous remuneration. It is not credible that this was not present to Mr Yeo’s mind at all.
“Experience suggests that in general those who are not interested in money tend not to get much. I can think of none who convincingly claim to have no interest in money, yet end up with an annual income in excess of £200,000. I do not consider that Mr Yeo is such a person. In my judgment this evidence was untrue. I am not persuaded that it was honest either.
It is a second major libel victory for journalists against Conservative politicians after The Sun last November saw off Andrew Mitchell’s action brought over the Plebgate coverage.
While this is encouraging for those who value press freedom it is worth noting that this freedom comes with a hefty price tag. Few publishers could, like News UK, afford to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to engage in years of litigation to defend true stories on matters of public interest.
It makes the case all the more urgent press regulator IPSO to set up an arbitration scheme so that libel disputes like this can be settled quickly and inexpensively in future.
Most publications when faced with Yeo's legal might would have caved in long before trial and apologised for pragmatic reasons. And given the huge expense and distraction of defending a case like this, there must be a chilling effect deterring publications from engaging in this sort of important public interest journalism.
Jeffrey Smith of Shingletown has a lot of good friends, some of whom he's never met. But he's certainly on their minds and in their hearts.
Jeffrey Smith of Shingletown has a lot of good friends, some of whom he's never met.
But he's certainly on their minds and in their hearts.
As the 57-year-old Smith continues to fight for his life in the burn center at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento after a fiery Aug. 20 traffic accident on Interstate 5 in Redding, friends, colleagues and well-wishers turned out Friday for a luncheon to help raise money for his family.
"He's like a big brother to me," said 49-year-old Troy Sweeney of Anderson, a truck driver who has known Smith for eight years.
"He's a good guy," agreed 60-year-old Ray McFarland of Redding, who has known Smith for about five years. "He's always there if you need him. Always."
Smith, a owner-operator truck driver at RLT Trucking on Eastside Road in Redding, was seriously injured when his empty big rig went off the freeway as he was having a coughing fit, hit a guardrail and slammed into a hillside, Sweeney said. The truck then burst into flames.
Smith freed himself from the wreckage and called 911. He suffered a broken femur, a dislocated hip and third-degree burns over 48 percent of his body.
He also had a stroke while in the hospital, a family member has said.
Now, three weeks after the crash, Smith remains in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at UC Davis Medical Center.
Sue Tonkel, the human relations director at RLT, said Friday's fundraising luncheon at the business, held in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, raised $10,800.
"This was really good," she said, adding the money raised exceeded the $10,000 goal.
Al Shufelberger, who started RLT in 1972, said he's grateful to the community for the support it has shown to Smith and his family.
"It's been a good thing," he said.
The barbecue luncheon saw a large contingent of California Highway Patrol and law enforcement officers, as well as tight-knit truck drivers, turn out in a show of support.
CHP Capt. George Peck, who said he has never met Smith, attended the event, purchasing an arm's length of raffle tickets.
"I heard it was for a good cause and came down to support it," Peck said.
Tonkel said Smith started with RLT as one of its company drivers in 2009 before becoming an owner-operator under its authority in 2015. He described Smith as a kind and thoughtful man dedicated to his family.
"He is a very giving person," she said.
Sweeney, who said Smith's family gives him regular updates on his friend's condition, echoed Tonkel's description.
And, he said, Smith treasures his family above all.
"He's into his family," he said. "His family is No. 1."
Smith and his wife, Crystal, have been married for 24 years and have raised three sons, Josh, Joseph and Jake.
An online Gofundme account at https://www.gofundme.com/jeffrey-smith-medical-fund has been opened to help Smith and his family with medical and other expenses.
That Jeffrey Smith Medical Fund account had raised more than $18,300 as of Friday. That fund does not include the money raised through the luncheon fundraiser.
Those wanting to help can donate money to Smith and his family through the Gofundme account or can call RLT at 241-8193.
"It was an honour to have played with you @ThierryHenry," tweeted former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie following the Frenchman's retirement. "Thanks for all you have given to football. What you have achieved will live on for many years. A true football man, a Legend!"
Eric Wickstrom /SUBMITTED TO YOURNEWS Moska Project performs at the 2015 Dancin' in the Streets.
Carlos Chaumer, drummer for Moska Project, hesitates to describe his band's sound.
Musicians don't like to be pigeonholed.
The band's website describes it as a fusion of Latin and reggae-rock with a Caribbean flavor and danceable African rhythms.
The key word here is danceable.
Audience members don't need drinks to loosen up before a Moska Project show. Known for its inviting beats and rhythms, the dance floor fills up at the first note.
"Back home, music and dance go together," Chaumer said about his home county of Venezuela. "And that's an understatement!"
Its latest album, set for release May 21, includes the original track "El Ritmo," which translates to "the rhythm." Chaumer said it tells the story of a guy fighting his discomfort to "break free and groove" on the dance floor.
Band members, who range in age from 26 to 41, are celebrating the release of the album with a performance May 21 at Terra Fermata in Stuart.
"Even though most of us live in Jupiter, our strongest audience is in Stuart," Chaumer said. "And Terra Fermata has a great atmosphere."
The album of original music titled "Cuatro" is the band's fourth album but its first as a sextet. Much of the music includes the Cuatro, a stringed instrument popular in Venezuela, native country to three of the six band members.
"Our musical roots are in Venezuela," Chaumer said. "The Cuatro is an important part of our culture."
Moska Project was founded in 2002 by Chaumer and frontman Gilly Gonzalez. But the 41 year olds have known each other since childhood. They grew up and played tennis together in Caracas. The pair moved to the United States in 1992 to attend the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis Program in Bradenton. They played professionally for two years. Today, both musicians are married fathers and coach tennis full time.
The band's evolution into a sextet took several years.
Venezuelan Jorge Orellana joined the band in 2009 to play bass and add vocals. Percussionist Jean Araque, horn player Markis Hernandez and lead guitarist Amir Tal added their talents three years ago.
"Amir is not just our lead guitarist," Chaumer said. "He is also the brains of the operation."
Tal recorded, mixed and mastered all 12 songs on the new album.
Moska Project keeps its performance schedule to a maximum three shows a month. It's not because they have day jobs, but for strategic marketing reasons.
"You want to create anticipation," Chaumer said. "We're not doing this the old school, cookie-cutter way of signing with a record label."
The independent group has cultivated a loyal following thanks to a team of local friends who help out with graphic design, merchandising, videos and more. Social media also has played a big part in its growing success.
Moska Project has played to crowds as large as 8,000 on the festival circuit and shared the stage with 311, G-Love, The Original Wailers, Julian Marley, Pato Banton and Taking Back Sunday.
The band has performed at The Pineapple Festival and will perform at Dancin' in the Streets in downtown Stuart for the third time this summer.
"We play such a broad spectrum of festivals because we have such a varied sound," Chaumer said. "Our music continues to be based on our musical, cultural and familial roots in Venezuela, but the move from the dog-eat-dog lifestyle of Caracas to the coastal lifestyle of Florida also is reflected in our sound."
Although the band wants its music to be heard all over the world, it is not ready to give up those day jobs.
"The happier you are with your current way of living, the harder it is to take that risk," said the father of two. "While we wait to see if our dream comes true, we're doing something we are very passionate about. We create, we play and share our music with people who appreciate it."
When: Doors open at 6 p.m. May 21. Treehouse opens at 7 p.m.; Moska Project performs at 8:30 p.m.
Where: Terra Fermata, 26 S.E. Sixth St., Stuart.
#TCPalmSocial columnist Ginny Beagan writes about art and entertainment for Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow her on twitter @GinnyBeagan.
Wait. There's A Death Penalty in California?
News item: Proposition 34, on the November ballot, would eliminate the death penalty in California.
Reaction: There's a death penalty in California?
OK, that reaction is tongue and cheek. Yes, the death penalty is on the books in California. But it's hard to see what the point is -- given how little the state has used it.
Thirteen people have been put to death in California since voters imposed the current death penalty law in 1978. But no one has paid the ultimate price in more than six years.
Your blogger has no moral opposition to the death penalty. Some crimes deserve that penalty. But the penalty is pointless, as least as it's practiced, or not practiced, in California.
What deterrent effect could the death penalty have if it's never used?
And the $185 million in annual costs associated with the death penalty -- because maintaining death row is logistically difficult and expensive -- hardly seem like a priority when schools, higher education and human services are subject to cut after cut.
All that said, polls show Prop 34 with an uphill battle. Majorities of Californians approve of the death penalty, and thus oppose Prop 34's ban on it. But one wonders if public opinion were to change if people understood they were banning something that never gets used anyway.
Nice 2 Bedroom Starter Home with Garage. Home Features Include: Large Living Room & Kitchen on First Floor. 2 Bedrooms Upstairs with a full bath. Some newer windows. Blown In Insulation. Updated Electric. New Furnace around 2000.
Matt Proudfoot (Forward Coach) of South Africa during the South African national rugby team media conference at Garden Court Umhlanga on August 14, 2018 in Durban, South Africa.
Erasmus has come under intense pressure after successive defeats to Argentina and Australia in the Rugby Championship and the coach himself conceded on Monday that his job would be on the line if the Boks suffer a humiliating defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.
The Boks are no longer in the running to win the tournament but a defiant Proudfoot said they would continue to building a strong and transformed squad for next year's World Cup even if it means losing their jobs.
“Rassie’s planning is spot on‚” Proudfoot said on Tuesday.
"We realise as coaches and management‚ and this is driven by Rassie himself‚ that we may be fired for individual losses even against our biggest foes.
“We have started the process to develop a South African team that represents a united nation and this is what this is about.
"If he (Erasmus) is to be fired as the head coach or director of rugby‚ so be it.
Proudfoot‚ who was also part of the ill-fated reign of Allister Coetzee‚ said they are all behind Erasmus.
“We are all aligned as the management behind him (Erasmus)‚" Proudfoot said.
"I have worked in management teams of various coaches and what has impressed me about Rassie is his honesty‚ his management style and the philosophy he believes in.
"There has been a buy-in from everybody and if I was not aligned to the plan‚ I would not be here.
"We are confident about the plan.
“We continuously strive to make this group better.
"The squad has been brought together in its composition to build a team that will be competitive at the World Cup (next year).
"That’s why when we went to Argentina we put young guys in place to get caps to make sure that they are ready for the challenge of the World Cup.

“Earth Shine,” shared in the Boing Boing Flickr Pool.

Mr Justice Warby today demolished the libel case brought by former MP Tim Yeo and sided pretty much 100 per cent behind The Sunday Times.

He ruled the paper's report that Yeo was prepared to act as a paid Parliamentary advocate for a Far East solar energy company was true and that it was based on responsible journalism.

He was clearly impressed by the testimony of Sunday Times Insight editor Jonathan Calvert and his former deputy Heidi Blake. And he described Yeo’s evidence as “dishonest” in places.

More than two years after the initial piece was published, on 9 June 2013, Yeo faces paying at least £400,000 in costs to The Sunday Times, as well as his own legal fees which will have been considerable.

As Sunday Times editor Martin Ivens said today: “This is a victory for investigative journalism. It vindicates the role of the press in exposing the clandestine advocacy by MPs for undisclosed interests."

The judgment notes that Yeo made £80,700 a year from his work as an MP. His various outside interests included work as a non-executive director of various energy-related companies which earned him just under £200,000 a year.

He was snagged by The Sunday Times after Blake emailed him on 13 May 2013 claiming to represent a “leading edge solar technology developer in the Far East”. She claimed to be offering “an extremely generous remuneration package including a quarterly bonus”.

There followed a lunch meeting between Blake, Calvert and Yeo in which they posed as lobbyists and which formed the basis for the story.

Yeo was “fronted up” about the story shortly after 9pm on the Friday before publication and given until 4pm the following day to respond.

Interestingly, Judge Warby ruled that this was a reasonable length of time for him to respond.

He said: “A story of this kind, containing what for this purpose I assume to be information which the public is entitled to receive, is not of such special urgency as to make it necessary to provide a short period for pre-publication comment. Such a story is however peculiarly vulnerable to having its impact undermined by spoiling tactics. The subject of the story has a strong incentive to engage in tactics of that kind, and so do competitors.

"The risks are exacerbated if the story is objectively sensational and the subject is someone, such as an experienced MP, well versed in the mechanisms for managing or influencing the news. If the impact of such a story is dissipated the public interest is harmed. It attracts less attention, and there is some waste of the resources of the media organisation that has created it.

But the judge said: “I am quite unable to accept this evidence. I accept that Mr Yeo is genuinely interested in green technology, and that he has given advice and help to some in this field without seeking or accepting any material reward.

“However, the 13 May email was short and clear. It was plainly suggesting a consultancy with generous remuneration. It is not credible that this was not present to Mr Yeo’s mind at all.

“Experience suggests that in general those who are not interested in money tend not to get much. I can think of none who convincingly claim to have no interest in money, yet end up with an annual income in excess of £200,000. I do not consider that Mr Yeo is such a person. In my judgment this evidence was untrue. I am not persuaded that it was honest either.

It is a second major libel victory for journalists against Conservative politicians after The Sun last November saw off Andrew Mitchell’s action brought over the Plebgate coverage.

While this is encouraging for those who value press freedom it is worth noting that this freedom comes with a hefty price tag. Few publishers could, like News UK, afford to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to engage in years of litigation to defend true stories on matters of public interest.

It makes the case all the more urgent press regulator IPSO to set up an arbitration scheme so that libel disputes like this can be settled quickly and inexpensively in future.

Most publications when faced with Yeo's legal might would have caved in long before trial and apologised for pragmatic reasons. And given the huge expense and distraction of defending a case like this, there must be a chilling effect deterring publications from engaging in this sort of important public interest journalism.

Jeffrey Smith of Shingletown has a lot of good friends, some of whom he's never met. But he's certainly on their minds and in their hearts.

Jeffrey Smith of Shingletown has a lot of good friends, some of whom he's never met.

But he's certainly on their minds and in their hearts.

As the 57-year-old Smith continues to fight for his life in the burn center at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento after a fiery Aug. 20 traffic accident on Interstate 5 in Redding, friends, colleagues and well-wishers turned out Friday for a luncheon to help raise money for his family.

"He's like a big brother to me," said 49-year-old Troy Sweeney of Anderson, a truck driver who has known Smith for eight years.

"He's a good guy," agreed 60-year-old Ray McFarland of Redding, who has known Smith for about five years. "He's always there if you need him. Always."

Smith, a owner-operator truck driver at RLT Trucking on Eastside Road in Redding, was seriously injured when his empty big rig went off the freeway as he was having a coughing fit, hit a guardrail and slammed into a hillside, Sweeney said. The truck then burst into flames.

Smith freed himself from the wreckage and called 911. He suffered a broken femur, a dislocated hip and third-degree burns over 48 percent of his body.

He also had a stroke while in the hospital, a family member has said.

Now, three weeks after the crash, Smith remains in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit at UC Davis Medical Center.

Sue Tonkel, the human relations director at RLT, said Friday's fundraising luncheon at the business, held in conjunction with National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, raised $10,800.

"This was really good," she said, adding the money raised exceeded the $10,000 goal.

Al Shufelberger, who started RLT in 1972, said he's grateful to the community for the support it has shown to Smith and his family.

"It's been a good thing," he said.

The barbecue luncheon saw a large contingent of California Highway Patrol and law enforcement officers, as well as tight-knit truck drivers, turn out in a show of support.

CHP Capt. George Peck, who said he has never met Smith, attended the event, purchasing an arm's length of raffle tickets.

"I heard it was for a good cause and came down to support it," Peck said.

Tonkel said Smith started with RLT as one of its company drivers in 2009 before becoming an owner-operator under its authority in 2015. He described Smith as a kind and thoughtful man dedicated to his family.

"He is a very giving person," she said.

Sweeney, who said Smith's family gives him regular updates on his friend's condition, echoed Tonkel's description.

And, he said, Smith treasures his family above all.

"He's into his family," he said. "His family is No. 1."

Smith and his wife, Crystal, have been married for 24 years and have raised three sons, Josh, Joseph and Jake.

An online Gofundme account at https://www.gofundme.com/jeffrey-smith-medical-fund has been opened to help Smith and his family with medical and other expenses.

That Jeffrey Smith Medical Fund account had raised more than $18,300 as of Friday. That fund does not include the money raised through the luncheon fundraiser.

Those wanting to help can donate money to Smith and his family through the Gofundme account or can call RLT at 241-8193.

"It was an honour to have played with you @ThierryHenry," tweeted former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie following the Frenchman's retirement. "Thanks for all you have given to football. What you have achieved will live on for many years. A true football man, a Legend!"

Eric Wickstrom /SUBMITTED TO YOURNEWS Moska Project performs at the 2015 Dancin' in the Streets.

Carlos Chaumer, drummer for Moska Project, hesitates to describe his band's sound.

Musicians don't like to be pigeonholed.

The band's website describes it as a fusion of Latin and reggae-rock with a Caribbean flavor and danceable African rhythms.

The key word here is danceable.

Audience members don't need drinks to loosen up before a Moska Project show. Known for its inviting beats and rhythms, the dance floor fills up at the first note.

"Back home, music and dance go together," Chaumer said about his home county of Venezuela. "And that's an understatement!"

Its latest album, set for release May 21, includes the original track "El Ritmo," which translates to "the rhythm." Chaumer said it tells the story of a guy fighting his discomfort to "break free and groove" on the dance floor.

Band members, who range in age from 26 to 41, are celebrating the release of the album with a performance May 21 at Terra Fermata in Stuart.

"Even though most of us live in Jupiter, our strongest audience is in Stuart," Chaumer said. "And Terra Fermata has a great atmosphere."

The album of original music titled "Cuatro" is the band's fourth album but its first as a sextet. Much of the music includes the Cuatro, a stringed instrument popular in Venezuela, native country to three of the six band members.

"Our musical roots are in Venezuela," Chaumer said. "The Cuatro is an important part of our culture."

Moska Project was founded in 2002 by Chaumer and frontman Gilly Gonzalez. But the 41 year olds have known each other since childhood. They grew up and played tennis together in Caracas. The pair moved to the United States in 1992 to attend the IMG Academy Bollettieri Tennis Program in Bradenton. They played professionally for two years. Today, both musicians are married fathers and coach tennis full time.

The band's evolution into a sextet took several years.

Venezuelan Jorge Orellana joined the band in 2009 to play bass and add vocals. Percussionist Jean Araque, horn player Markis Hernandez and lead guitarist Amir Tal added their talents three years ago.

"Amir is not just our lead guitarist," Chaumer said. "He is also the brains of the operation."

Tal recorded, mixed and mastered all 12 songs on the new album.

Moska Project keeps its performance schedule to a maximum three shows a month. It's not because they have day jobs, but for strategic marketing reasons.

"You want to create anticipation," Chaumer said. "We're not doing this the old school, cookie-cutter way of signing with a record label."

The independent group has cultivated a loyal following thanks to a team of local friends who help out with graphic design, merchandising, videos and more. Social media also has played a big part in its growing success.

Moska Project has played to crowds as large as 8,000 on the festival circuit and shared the stage with 311, G-Love, The Original Wailers, Julian Marley, Pato Banton and Taking Back Sunday.

The band has performed at The Pineapple Festival and will perform at Dancin' in the Streets in downtown Stuart for the third time this summer.

"We play such a broad spectrum of festivals because we have such a varied sound," Chaumer said. "Our music continues to be based on our musical, cultural and familial roots in Venezuela, but the move from the dog-eat-dog lifestyle of Caracas to the coastal lifestyle of Florida also is reflected in our sound."

Although the band wants its music to be heard all over the world, it is not ready to give up those day jobs.

"The happier you are with your current way of living, the harder it is to take that risk," said the father of two. "While we wait to see if our dream comes true, we're doing something we are very passionate about. We create, we play and share our music with people who appreciate it."

When: Doors open at 6 p.m. May 21. Treehouse opens at 7 p.m.; Moska Project performs at 8:30 p.m.

Where: Terra Fermata, 26 S.E. Sixth St., Stuart.

#TCPalmSocial columnist Ginny Beagan writes about art and entertainment for Treasure Coast Newspapers. Follow her on twitter @GinnyBeagan.

Wait. There's A Death Penalty in California?

News item: Proposition 34, on the November ballot, would eliminate the death penalty in California.

Reaction: There's a death penalty in California?

OK, that reaction is tongue and cheek. Yes, the death penalty is on the books in California. But it's hard to see what the point is -- given how little the state has used it.

Thirteen people have been put to death in California since voters imposed the current death penalty law in 1978. But no one has paid the ultimate price in more than six years.

Your blogger has no moral opposition to the death penalty. Some crimes deserve that penalty. But the penalty is pointless, as least as it's practiced, or not practiced, in California.

What deterrent effect could the death penalty have if it's never used?

And the $185 million in annual costs associated with the death penalty -- because maintaining death row is logistically difficult and expensive -- hardly seem like a priority when schools, higher education and human services are subject to cut after cut.

All that said, polls show Prop 34 with an uphill battle. Majorities of Californians approve of the death penalty, and thus oppose Prop 34's ban on it. But one wonders if public opinion were to change if people understood they were banning something that never gets used anyway.

Nice 2 Bedroom Starter Home with Garage. Home Features Include: Large Living Room & Kitchen on First Floor. 2 Bedrooms Upstairs with a full bath. Some newer windows. Blown In Insulation. Updated Electric. New Furnace around 2000.

Matt Proudfoot (Forward Coach) of South Africa during the South African national rugby team media conference at Garden Court Umhlanga on August 14, 2018 in Durban, South Africa.

Erasmus has come under intense pressure after successive defeats to Argentina and Australia in the Rugby Championship and the coach himself conceded on Monday that his job would be on the line if the Boks suffer a humiliating defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.

The Boks are no longer in the running to win the tournament but a defiant Proudfoot said they would continue to building a strong and transformed squad for next year's World Cup even if it means losing their jobs.

“Rassie’s planning is spot on‚” Proudfoot said on Tuesday.

"We realise as coaches and management‚ and this is driven by Rassie himself‚ that we may be fired for individual losses even against our biggest foes.

“We have started the process to develop a South African team that represents a united nation and this is what this is about.

"If he (Erasmus) is to be fired as the head coach or director of rugby‚ so be it.

Proudfoot‚ who was also part of the ill-fated reign of Allister Coetzee‚ said they are all behind Erasmus.

“We are all aligned as the management behind him (Erasmus)‚" Proudfoot said.

"I have worked in management teams of various coaches and what has impressed me about Rassie is his honesty‚ his management style and the philosophy he believes in.

"There has been a buy-in from everybody and if I was not aligned to the plan‚ I would not be here.

"We are confident about the plan.

“We continuously strive to make this group better.

"The squad has been brought together in its composition to build a team that will be competitive at the World Cup (next year).

"That’s why when we went to Argentina we put young guys in place to get caps to make sure that they are ready for the challenge of the World Cup.