Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: A moment of national significance

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  • Sacha, in reply to Lucy Stewart,

    with American commentators

    they really play without pads?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    Brillo...

    they really play without pads?

    They must use pads!
    'Cos I heard they have wings...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    And they do that hakka wardance thing.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Raymond A Francis,

    To quote The Duke of Wellington it"wasa dammed close thing"
    Apparently he really said
    "Its been a damned nice thing — the nearest run thing you ever saw in your life
    Which does sum the night up rather well
    I was introduced to TAB betting last evening when I turned $18 dollars into $212 with 4 correct choices on a mixture of dogs, trotters etc
    Just a pub thing after a hard day in the sun after manning the gates at a local car racing event
    Just before I doubled the winning and put them in my back pocket (and this is the important point) I was seriously tempted with a bet for the french to win and a under 12 point difference, not sure what we or rather the Collection for the Blind would have made on that

    45' South • Since Nov 2006 • 578 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    The relief, the sheer relief.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    By the 70 minute mark I think I'd accepted the idea that we were going to lose, that there would be some heartbreaking moment that would take it away. Even after the whistle, it took a wee bit to come right.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    By the 70 minute mark I think I'd accepted the idea that we were going to lose

    Whoever coached them to kick away possession deserves a slap. Heart pill hawkers probably happy though. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Russell Brown,

    that there would be some heartbreaking moment that would take it away.

    I think that was a collective consciousness for a number of us, of which I believe got the AB's wanting to prove us wrong. Didn't we do well then.;)The fire works exploding over the Harbour, The sky tower dressed in black and white made for a nice finale and man, did the pub go mad. The music boomed "We are the Champions" A pleasure to watch others get so excited.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Ian couldn't bear it - he kept asking why they all tried to run down the middle at the beginning when the French had left their sides wide open. I know nothing of rugby, I don't know the rules, nor the whys nor wherefores. Even if it wasn't the trouncing that Kiwis seemed to expect (and I've been peripherally following rugby long enough to know that our glory days, the days of smashing through the opposition defence, appear to be over. As do the days of scoring try after try against other world beating teams.) we won. I knew the recriminations would start the day after, because that's what we do. Unless it's a huge score, we don't seem to like winning, much, do we? Was it a good game? I think it probably was, for all the missed kicks, and opportunities, I thought the French played astoundingly well, and all credit to them. I know they probably felt robbed. I'm sure the All Blacks, certainly, will be asking themselves questions. But that's for another day. For today, let's celebrate what a great party we put on. Let's celebrate a day off. And let's celebrate Spring, in all her glory. We have a lot of stuff to sort out, but that stuff will be there tomorrow.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Nice way to spend a Labour Weekend.

    First, tomato and capsicum planting. Bloody good exercise, gardening, the kids like it too.

    Second, a couple of days away at Waiheke. Kayaking and swimming, and Ozzie beating Wales.

    Third, the Final. At 3pm Quay St is chocka, as we weave our way from the ferry. The queue to get onto Queen's Wharf is all the way back to the Viaduct. People are in a very high state of excitement, even more than at the opening ceremony. Regardless of outcome, people are going to par-tay, that is clear.

    Fourth, Victory! A steadily building dread is replaced by a wave of relief. France silences all suggestions that they should not be in the final, and their captain is gracious in defeat as a long awaited ceremony culminates in the money shot of McCaw holding the Cup aloft.

    Fifth, Party. I cruise into the city, fighting off exhaustion (the late games are killers when I rise at 6am for the kids) to find the only traffic jam I've experienced in Auckland in years. K-Road is bumper to bumper and the streets are busier than I've ever seen them. Queen St is actually gridlocked, and closed off. The crowds are getting crazier and crazier, and 2 near misses with drunken pedestrians cause me my first regret for the entire nation wearing black. Some more beers, and I'm feeling shattered, and drift off to sleep to sound of continual honking and cheering from the streets.

    Sixth, euphoric hangover. Today, I wonder how long the glow can last. My bet is that it might get past lunchtime today, as reality asserts itself. A bit more gardening, and then time to put a bunch of stuff on TradeMe, as I ponder how to feed my family, unemployed during a recession that appears to have no end. But there is a plan, and my post RWC resolution is to spend less time writing and more time working.

    It could be time to turn thoughts to the election, but the rational voter paradox looms large, that at a time when discussion could be at its most valuable, I have the least time for it. It's a taste of how kids feel about politics, as the empowered voting blocs look likely to vote squarely for their interests, and the mad path of property overinvestment, agragrian specialization, finance industry bailouts, asset sales, tax cuts, neglect of disaster relief, and a total lack of any vision for the economy seems likely to shoo in, unless Labour and the Greens can take some inspiration from the French and show how there's really only one poll that counts.

    It's been a horrendous year for NZ, with one bright spot, this Tournament that has now ended. From here, nothing is going to save us from steadily increasing hardship other than our own actions, simultaneously looking after ourselves and our dependents, and also the nation as a whole. I'm going to allow myself one half day of basking, taking the rest that this weekend is meant to be all about, before applying myself like I never have before. If you folk don't see me much, it's probably better that way for a while.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Great, Ben. But provide some shelter for your tomatoes for they will suffer if night-time temperatures fall below 10c.
    We are about to have a bbq, to celebrate one of my Chinese students graduating with a PhD this week, the burst of spring and, of course, last night's victory--and the silencing of Stephen Donald critics!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Jackie Clark,

    For today, let's celebrate what a great party we put on. Let's celebrate a day off. And let's celebrate Spring, in all her glory. We have a lot of stuff to sort out, but that stuff will be there tomorrow.

    Snap. The euphoria from sporting wins has been, in my experience, extremely brief. A little of it is good. I hope it kickstarts the nation along positive pathways of thought and mood. But I doubt the effect will be that profound.

    For me the two big things that have come from this is the feeling that NZ is still good at something, and that we have an unexpected capacity for partying on the cheap, something I hope continues. It won't do the retail sector any good, but expecting an economy in recession to recover through retail is a foolish Ponzi scheme, one of the many that has done us harm for quite some time.

    But provide some shelter for your tomatoes for they will suffer if night-time temperatures fall below 10c.

    Mulching and cloches, today's jobs.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    By the 70 minute mark I think I’d accepted the idea that we were going to lose, that there would be some heartbreaking moment that would take it away. Even after the whistle, it took a wee bit to come right.

    Nah, I’m actually pretty glad the Cocks made the ABs work for it. Yes, I’m sure it wasn’t the most elegant eighty minutes of rugby ever to grace Eden Park, but routs are boring. And it was pleasing to see the toxic smug clouds blown away by a cold blast. :)

    ETA: But, yegads, there are some (and mercifully few, to be fair) sore winners out there. Yes, the ABs won by one point. Maybe they should have won by a margin of infinity billion, but they didn't. BABAGTFOIA.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Congratulations Geoff. You must feel proud to watch the outcome of the fruits of your Labour. Happy Labour Day. Nekminnit :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I must unreservedly apologise to the entire country. 46 minutes into the game I had to take a leak, 'twas the beers you see.
    Nek minnit.
    When I returned I couldn't work out why the crowd was in shock.
    One bloody point eh?
    I feel the election will be just as close and the incumbent bunch of slime-balls will be sent packing.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Patrick, in reply to Sacha,

    Whoever coached them to kick away possession deserves a slap.

    Absolutely - we stopped playing the way we'd been playing all tournament and started playing the way everyone else who we'd beaten had played We're the ones who are supposed to field aimless kicks and counter-attack with a vengeance. Damn near choked again, but who cares now - one point is enough.

    Rangiora, Te Wai Pounamu • Since Nov 2006 • 261 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    We caught the train back to town, and as icing on our cake our carriage was full of Argentinian rugby fans who turned the ride into a raucous demonstration of what a Boca Juniors game might be like.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    So, just got back from a trip to the supermarket, people seem to be quite "UP".
    Noticed all the National billboards had "Congratulations All Blacks" plastered across them. I can see what's going to happen now "Labour didn't congratulate the All Blacks" says John...
    :-[

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Mike Graham, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    For a party that not all that long ago had a mantra "Politics shouldn't interfere in sport", it seems to have changed somewhat, especially with the PM appearing at various inappropriate (imho) places - next to the ABs singing the anthem, the ABs changing room after the game...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Manstream politics...

    I feel the election will be just as close and the incumbent
    bunch of slime-balls will be sent packing.

    We're counting on you,
    on November 26th,
    to take the piss,
    at the right time!

    no pressure...

    :- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    Why does John Key keep referring to us as they?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Noticed all the National billboards had “Congratulations All Blacks” plastered across them. I can see what’s going to happen now “Labour didn’t congratulate the All Blacks” says John…
    :-[

    Whatever.

    Why does John Key keep referring to us as they?

    Personally, I'd like someone to tell the media to stop talking in the majestic plural.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to Russell Brown,

    By the 70 minute mark I think I'd accepted the idea that we were going to lose, that there would be some heartbreaking moment that would take it away. Even after the whistle, it took a wee bit to come right.

    I work out tension via movement, so I was basically jumping up and down on the spot for most of the last half, when I wasn't blanket-rending. It was agonising.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Tom Semmens,

    If National are truly planning to win an outright mandate by simply getting Key photographed with the All Blacks as much as possible and claiming they are not responsible for the economy then their complacency may get a rude shock. Key's reception by the crowd at the final was lacklustre at best - I don't think being photographed in the dressing room with the players after the match went down that well either, several comments I have read were to the effect he hadn't the right to be there celebrating in such an intimate environment.

    He has over-egged that particular pudding, methinks.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Why does John Key keep referring to us as they?
    Personally, I’d like someone to tell the media to stop talking in the majestic plural.

    He refers to us as "they" because he is not one of us.
    Well Craig I can understand why that upsets you. We, is a bit inclusive eh, bit like Socialism.
    ;-)

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

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