David Pocock should be applauded, not criticised, for standing up against homophobia

Says Null, from Brisbane: "Maybe if he spent more time on improving his game and less time working on his profile Pocock could reach his undoubted potential".

Says Hatchet: "Pocock should concentrate on his game or stand for parliament."

Occasionally, over the past few years, those within the rugby fraternity have privately made similar remarks about the outspoken Wallabies and Brumbies flanker. The ARU said as much in December after Pocock was arrested for chaining himself to machinery with other protesters at the Maules Creek mine in northwest NSW.

"While we appreciate David has personal views on a range of matters, we've made it clear that we expect his priority to be ensuring he can fulfil his role as a high-performance athlete," the ARU said in a statement.

What do we expect from our professional sportspeople? Should they run out into the middle of the arena, just play and say nothing, like robots?

Or should they stand up for what they believe in, using their very public positions to make a difference for the greater good, instead of merely concentrating on the next sponsorship dollar that presents itself?

Muhammad Ali won an Olympic gold medal, returned to the US a champion, but was then denied service at a local store because he was black. Should he have never spoken out about racism and civil rights?

Should sporting teams have toured and played against South Africa, regardless of apartheid?

Should Cathy Freeman have never completed a victory lap while holding the Aboriginal flag after a 400m win at the Sydney Olympics? Should Adam Goodes never have called out racism in the middle of the MCG?

It is easier to say nothing than to take a stand. Pocock has used his public profile on a number of issues, but he's been mostly outspoken about homophobia, and a champion of same-sex marriage.

To that end, so has rugby, especially ARU boss Bill Pulver.

When the Bingham Cup – the World Cup of gay rugby – was held in Sydney last year, the ARU provided Pocock, Adam Ashley-Cooper, John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones as ambassadors. Earlier this month, Wallabies and Brumbies star Matt Toomua was front and centre of the lead float at the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. The float celebrated both Sydney's hosting of the Bingham Cup, and the signing of the Anti-Homophobia and Inclusion Framework by Australia's top five sporting codes.

The NRL has made the right noises on this issue, not least after its weak response to homophobic remarks on social media from former Knights player Ryan Stig in late 2013. Yet the league was criticised for being the only code that didn't provide a current player for the float at Mardi Gras this year. Thankfully, former Bulldog Paul Langmack represented the game.

Actions speak louder than words, and to that end Pulver's stance was strong. Its tough words about stamping out homophobia had been backed up. Instead of getting bogged down in whether the Brumbies or SANZAR should investigate, it took control of the matter, and cut the scandal off at the head before it really became a scandal at all. A strong message has been sent.

When these incidents occur, the wider reaction often shows how far there is to go, despite the belief that we've evolved to a place "where everyone's cool with it".

The argument that "what happens on the field, stays on the field" no longer applies. It hasn't applied for years. It stopped the moment the sport became professional, with saturated television coverage bringing thousands of eyes and ears right into the middle of the field.

Whether there was a gay player on the field on Sunday afternoon, whether the remarks were picked up by sound effects microphones at the ground or not, is irrelevant.

The word "faggot" is a homophobic slur. It's not being oversensitive or politically correct to suggest as much. It mightn't hurt you, but try being on the end of it.

There are countless people, gay or straight, who are offended by the word. As Pocock said post-match, it's on the same page as racism.

Players for the Sydney Convicts –Australia's first gay rugby team – report that they hear the term regularly while playing in sub-districts competitions each weekend. The gay players in the side will often laugh it off. The straight players in the team are often the ones who take umbrage, standing up for their teammates.

When someone like Pocock stops and calls it out in a game of Super Rugby, on live television, he speaks for every one of those people who will no longer tolerate remarks that might've swung in the past, but don't swing now.

There's not enough bravery in this world. It needs more men like David Pocock, who take a stand when others do not.