By Greg Russell
September 18th 2007 @ 10:30pm
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Portugese passion
Greg Russell writes: I don’t know who else caught this, but the rugby highlight of the weekend was without doubt the Portugese team singing their national anthem. A real return to the old amateur days when players sang the national anthem as if they were about to be burned at the stake (I half expected Declan Curren and Peter FitzSimons to appear in Portugese jerseys!).
This was closely followed as a highlight by the Portugese players forming a sideline “tunnel” at the end of the match and clapping the New Zealanders off the field. The All Blacks were rightly embarrassed at their own limp behavior by comparison (for example, their sponsor adidas has stipulated that they may not swap jerseys with the opposition on the field of play, but only in the changing rooms afterwards).
I didn’t actually think the All Blacks were much better from minutes 0-80 either. Most of their 16 tries were very individualistic and even against Portugal they struggled to cross the advantage line from set pieces (completely confirming Stephen Jones’s pre-tournament assessment of them in this regard).
In fact the most interesting “rugby” during this period was probably Timana Tahu playing for Parramatta against the Bulldogs at the same time. If he can stay fit, he’s going to be an excellent buy by the ARU.
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Jeffrey Phillips said | September 19th 2007 @ 9:31am | Report comment
I agree with Greg Russell’s observation that the passion shown by the Portugese singing their National Anthem has been a highlight of the RWC.The idea of putting life and limb on the line in a sporting or other context is admirable.In that way even defeat is honourable, as in Thermopylae.On the other hand I do not detect much of this quality in the ARC which is not based on the well-spring of passion,tribalism.These disjointed cobbled together teams have no tradition and unlike real organically grown clubs no ethos .In other words nothing worth dying for ,ergo no Spartans.
Jeffrey Phillips
Peter L said | September 19th 2007 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
Greg - put the AB game a little in context. Without meaning to be patronising, the ABs were pretty certain that if they showed up they would win - much as with the Wallabies against Japan.
The game plan was to stick to a 10-12 tunnel with backs and forwards running off passes (on varying angles) and into gaps. With the line broken it was try time unless the ABs then lay down and waited, a la a practice session - which would have been patronising.
If the ABs can’t break the line, they did pretty well to beat the Boks in Durban and Dunedin, and the Wallabies in Auckland. In fact, had there not been a certain yellow card in Melbourne they likely would have won that too, even jet lagged. For a team that can’t, they seem to manage OK, don’t you think?
Bumper said | September 19th 2007 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
The ABs should be embarrased that Portugal put 10 points on them.
I think they will be exposed, particularly in the centres, when they come up against Australia.
Harry said | September 20th 2007 @ 6:01am | Report comment
I wondered why NZ wouldn’t swap jerseys at the end. Fulfilling the sponsors requirement - ffs! Thats not even smart marketing, if anyone at adidas had a brain and was actually in tune with the game and its values and traditions, they’d realise they’d generate more coverage and positive images for their brand by allowing them to swap the jerseys.
A fine example of how big corporations get it wrong with their forumulaic and rigid thinking.
Peter L said | September 20th 2007 @ 6:17am | Report comment
Harry - agreed that Adidas has it wrong not allowing jersey swapping and to me it seems a rather petty thing to have written into a contract anyway. truly bizarre, and as you say, out of whack with the traditions and values of the game.
I wonder if the Canterbury contracts have such a clause that would prevent the Wallabies doing the Jersey swap? personally I have been against NZs move to Adidas from the get go - the All Black brand is an NZ brand and they should be supporters of other leading NZ brands like Canterbury.
Harry said | September 20th 2007 @ 6:40am | Report comment
Money speaks alas Peter L adidas is a global giant and can pay the Black’s more than Canterbury I’d guess. A shame. I think these marketing geniuses really miss out - or to use their language, lessen the potential optimisation of the brand - by not doing a bit of basic research on the traditions, tribalisms and customs of teams and games. But thats globalisation for you eh.