Hard News: Winning the RWC: it's complicated
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(retweet)
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In the lead-up to the Cup, some of my liberal friends groused about the idea that the All Blacks are culturally important to New Zealanders.
Just this. But really really this.
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So. What transport problems?
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Danielle, in reply to
Most. Persistent. Earworm. Ever.
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Emma Hart, in reply to
Would you rather I'd posted the dubstep version?
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We'll be watching the last game in London which will be kind of weird but also probably satisfying. I am looking forward to walking off to a Sunday market after we (hopefully) win and feeling a bit smarmy about it all. Our UK record record company is run by a couple of delightful chaps who both played rugby but prefer to watch football, which defines the British game really. 2.5 million registered players? Crazy. But the passion is nothing compared to what it is here.
This world cup has had some brilliant games. Ireland and Wales have been great to watch for quite different reasons. England and Scotland were underwhelming. Italy continue to improve. SA are probably too old, lots of excellent players at the very end of their careers, but still playing some pretty brutal rugby.
Australia are on the verge. They will be massive next year. If they find a front row they will be unbeatable.
...France.... je ne comprends. they are crazy. The coach, amazing, what a nutter. Looks like a jewel thief from a 50s sassy crime comedy.
All in all, very very entertaining.
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Sorry, huge comment. I am full of rugby fuzzies.
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It was a magnificent game. I did my bit for enlightening readers up north about the meaning of rugby for New Zealand, in my first guest blog for [www.cstonline.tv] a week or so back.
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Okay. For the last few weeks, I've been occasionally winding up nervous rugby-loving friends by saying things like, "It's only Argentina, what could possibly go wrong?" or "There's no way we could wrench another groin, I mean, what are the odds?"
And last night, I swear I didn't breathe for about seventy minutes. I'm not just happy we won, I'm happy we won by playing really good rugby that was a pleasure to watch.
Next weekend, my partner and I will be in Nelson for a friend's birthday. I'm dragging Karl out on the Friday night so we can watch the "bronze final" in a pub. I don't know where we'll go but I already know how warm and good-spirited the atmosphere will be.
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Sacha, in reply to
Sorry, huge comment
you need a word with Ben about that.
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Bluntly, if there's still a ship spewing oil on the beaches of the Bay of Plenty it's not going to be a good look for the Prime Minister to be getting his goof on at the after-party.
The venerable Tom Scott has eliminated the need for an explanation.
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Kumara Republic, in reply to
The venerable Tom Scott has eliminated the need for an explanation.
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Sacha, in reply to
The venerable Tom Scott has eliminated the need for an explanation
Yes, and please congratulate your dad for us, Sam. Must be a holy grail of political cartooning to not need any text.
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Josie Campbell breaks down the terminology of the commentators.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
And last night, I swear I didn’t breathe for about seventy minutes. I’m not just happy we won, I’m happy we won by playing really good rugby that was a pleasure to watch.
I’m thinking that there was something about last night’s match that anyone could get, aficionado or not. Not everyone at our place was exactly a fan, but it seemed very clear what was going down.
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jb,
I think that's true not only because the All Blacks are historically world-beaters at what they do, but because their success embodies a combination of virtues that speak to national character.
No, it's a lot to do with massaging the Small Person syndrome, as in "We make the best wine in the world" when a 3rd tier winery wins Best of Show in a minor competition or "Our dollar was the best-performing currency on the global market last week" as if it's some heroic achievement to boast about. (No, it's other people clipping the ticket and it's not about more than cheaper holidays and cut-price Chinese tat at The Warehouse. It's about the ability to compete in the international marketplace and create jobs for New Zealanders. Seriously.)
Love the game, the current All Black line-up is one of the most enjoyable to watch. Even if I have to wait until I can get the games via BitTorrent. And even if I have to listen to the boofheads on Maori TV, because it's the only version available.
Just don't call me a fucking grousing liberal just because I don't agree that physicality in itself is something to aspire to.
Off to therapy to watch the "It's OK to not like things" clip
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a fait accompli (do the French have a word for that?),
You mean like that feeling we had this morning after Aussie goes down - Schadenfreude. (Do the Germans have a word for that?)
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Maori TV have been replaying the 1996 series about the history of rugby in New Zealand put together with historian Jock Phillips and others. Great old footage and not shying away from the relationship with apartheid, etc.
The sport really has been a major part of our national culture and identity especially in the monochrome post-WW2 era. These days, it's not so all-pervasive and rock stars can be musicians.
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Just don't call me a fucking grousing liberal just because I don't agree that physicality in itself is something to aspire to.
Not at all. I kinda thought the whole point of my post was that it's about more than physicality, actually.
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Ha! I was sitting next to Johnathon Clegg of the Wall St Journal article. After Piri missed his first two kicks he leaned over and asked "do you guys have anyone who can kick?"
I laughed and said "Yeah, they're both injured" thinking he was taking the piss. Nope. "Oh, well Aaron Cruden would be our other option"
Then after the dropgoal I leaned over and said "The answer is 'yes'"
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Sacha, in reply to
grousing liberal
nothing wrong with a slosh of blended whisky from time to time.
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In the lead-up to the Cup, some of my liberal friends groused about the idea that the All Blacks are culturally important to New Zealanders. Of course they are. It’s silly to argue otherwise. I think that’s true not only because the All Blacks are historically world-beaters at what they do,
It's fine for it to be culturally important and I enjoy seeing a good game too. I'm just not sure how healthy it is when the entire national mood, election outcomes, crime rates and particularly (so I hear) domestic violence fluctuate depending on whether a particular rugby team is having a good season. It's great to enjoy a great game, but a few people out there just need to appreciate that there are other things to life, and I'm not convinced the way officialdom often pushes our rugby "culture" always helps things.
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And. At the dubwise central inc mansion they have this amazing pizza its fresh its gritty and it's so tasty it does tricks. Unreal. Plus, surround around sound on the big screen tv, like the Imax . What a mansion, a cloud within a cloud.
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Paul Williams, in reply to
You mean like that feeling we had this morning after Aussie goes down - Schadenfreude. (Do the Germans have a word for that?)
I know what you mean, but I've got to say almost every single one of my Australian colleagues made a point of popping over to offer their congrats to the All Blacks. My six year old daughter had the principal come to shake her hand. And, as far as I can tell, all the Aussies want us to win. I'm pretty cool with that.
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3410,
In the lead-up to the Cup, some of my liberal friends groused about the idea that the All Blacks are culturally important to New Zealanders. Of course they are. It's silly to argue otherwise.
It's also worth remembering that half the country didn't even watch last night's match.
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