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The dust is settled on the World Cup and every minor detail has been torn apart and analysed.
Just recently I was watching another clip of Sonny Bill and his incredible gesture to hand over his winners medal to the over enthusiastic young pitch invader.
The sheer look of joy and disbelief in his face as Sonny Bill Williams placed the medal over his neck was one to behold and a young fan of the game is left with one incredible memory and story to tell of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
While us ‘adults’ dissect and debate the ins and outs of the tournament, best ever, refereeing, so on and so forth I was left wondering what the up and coming generation thought of the just completed tournament and what they took out of it.
So, I gathered the children from some very hardcore rugby dads and sat them around a table to ask the hard hitting questions to get their take on proceedings.
Eight children in total, boys and girls, ages from six to sixteen, they were Danika, Maddox, Seko, Saoirse, Darius, Bay, Firdaus and Amin.
Here are their answers to the Big Questions, uncut.
1. Which is your favourite rugby team and why?
Danika (6 Year old)
‘All Blacks because they have strong players and good at rugby.’
Maddox (12 year old)
‘The All Blacks because they are hardworking’
Seko (6 Year old)
‘All Blacks because they’re cool!’
Saoirse (8 Year old)
‘All Blacks. They represent New Zealand.’
Darius (12 Year old)
‘Springboks because they are the best’
Bay (9 Year old)
‘The Boks, because they are the good guys. I also like the white uniforms of England, but my dad says I’m not allowed to like them. And the Argentina team. They are cute.’
Firdaus (13 Year old)
‘Australia. Because it’s Australia.’
Amin (16 Year old)
‘Wallabies. Cos my dad loves the Wallabies’
2. What was your favourite thing about watching a Rugby World Cup game?
Danika –
‘When people score tries’
Maddox –
‘Watching Julian Savea and people like that’
Seko –
‘Tries’
Saoirse –
‘Didn’t watch any’
Darius –
‘Haka’
Bay –
‘The national anthems, and when the guys cry.’
Firdaus –
‘When people ram each other.’
Amin –
‘Watching my dad scream.’
3. What do you think your mum or dad liked most about watching the Rugby World Cup?
Danika –
‘When people got tries and they were screaming!’
Maddox –
‘Their team was winning’
Seko –
‘Drop Kicks’
Saoirse –
‘Supporting teams’
Darius –
‘Mum doesn’t care, she only watches the haka, walks past the TV and asks the Boks score, then says cool or awe. Dad doesn’t talk to anyone, he just watches TV.’
Bay –
‘He likes the fights. She likes the haka.’
Firdaus –
‘When his team wins’
Amin –
‘Heavy men running’
4. What was the funniest thing your mum or dad did while watching the rugby?
Danika –
‘When mum and dad yelled at the TV’
Maddox –
‘When dad jumped up when Beauden Barrett scored the winning try and yelled so hard and loud his face went red’
Seko –
‘Eating popcorn, funny.’
Saoirse –
‘Shouting so loudly they made Junior cry’
Darius –
‘Dad told a client to come see him after the Rugby World Cup.’
Bay –
‘He tackled everyone, even my teacher. He jumped on the table. He fell down. ‘
Firdaus –
‘When dad fell asleep, and slept through it.’
Amin –
‘People falling over.’
5. What would you say to your favourite rugby team to help them win the Rugby World Cup?
Danika –
‘Good luck All Blacks and win the World Cup for me’
Maddox –
‘Come on guys, keep the chop tackles and keep your head up even if you are losing’
Seko –
‘Go All Blacks!’
Saoirse –
‘I would say to them to work on their outline, tackling and stuff.’
Darius –
‘Beat the All Blacks.’
Bay –
‘You’re just as good as the All Blacks, but you have to believe more in yourself and don’t be afraid.’
Firdaus –
‘Change the team name to Wannabies. Because Wannabies sounds good.’
Amin –
‘Hello, and good game!’
6. Who is the funniest player?
Danika –
‘Ma’a Nonu I think, he makes strange faces’
Maddox –
‘I don’t know, don’t really have any’
Seko –
‘Julian Savea cos he slides and lands on his face’
Saoirse –
‘Jerry Collins’
Darius –
‘That guy from Wales who dived like a football player’
Bay-
‘The man who does the dance when he kicks for poles.’
Firdaus –
‘None.’
Amin –
‘Dunno.’
7. Why do you think adults take rugby so seriously?
Danika –
‘Because they watch it too much’
Maddox –
‘Because they want their country to win and kick ass’
Seko –
‘Because it’s a sport?’
Saoirse –
‘Cause they want their country to win.’
Darius –
‘They’re sick.’
Bay –
‘It makes them happy? I don’t know. I think it’s funny.’
Firdaus –
‘Because it involves men who are men.’
Amin –
‘Because it’s a rough game’
8. Do you know where the next Rugby World Cup will be?
Danika –
‘No’
Maddox –
‘Japan’
Seko –
‘Yes! Japan!’
Saoirse –
‘France? Oh no, Australia!’
Darius –
‘I am not allowed to say that name in our house, my dad goes into fits.’
Bay –
‘Japan. I think I will go this time. And we will go to a sumo wrestling match. My dad has a map up in the garage, already.’
Firdaus –
‘Malaysia.’
Amin –
‘Guessing… Australia!?’
9. Who do you think was the best player from the Rugby World Cup and why?
Danika –
‘I didn’t watch all the games, but I think Richie but mostly Dan Carter because he kicks lots of points at the poles.’
Maddox –
‘That’s a toughie, ummm, there were lots of good players but I pick Julian Savea because he scored lots of try’s and smashed some guys.’
Seko –
‘Dan Carter because he did a drop kick over the post.’
Saoirse –
‘Dan Carter because he has been a member for a long time and kicking for a long time.’
Darius –
‘Bryan Habana’
Bay –
‘Ebezeth. Elizabeth? Endabeth. Because he is the strongest and he fights good.’
Firdaus –
‘Firdaus’
Amin –
‘Dunno’
10. What was your preferred snack for watching the rugby?
Danika –
‘Donuts’
Maddox –
‘McDonalds’
Seko –
‘Nachos!’
Saoirse –
‘Chocolate and Popcorn’
Darius –
‘Biltong, Doh’
Bay –
‘Chocolate. Of course.’
Firdaus –
‘Firdaus. Wait no. Burgers? No. The cup itself.’
Amin –
‘Kitkat.’
11. What was your favourite memory from the Rugby World Cup?
Danika –
‘When Dan Carter kicked the goals’
Maddox –
‘When Richie McCaw lifted up the trophy in front of the team and all the fireworks went off’
Seko –
‘Winning the Rugby World Cup.’
Saoirse –
‘Winning.’
Darius –
‘Don’t know.’
Bay –
‘Funny pictures my Dad sent me and the stuff he brought me and how much time we were together watching.’
Firdaus –
‘When Australian won.’
Amin –
‘Dad screaming.’
12. What do you like the most about rugby?
Danika –
‘I dunno, I just love it because it’s fun to play and it’s fantastical!’
Maddox –
‘I like to play because of the contact and skill and watching the All Blacks’
Seko –
‘Tackling and drop kicks.’
Saoirse –
‘Nothing and winning.’
Darius –
‘Everytime we score a try my dad laughs and says something about Spiro.’
Bay –
‘The uniforms.’
Firdaus –
‘When they ram each other’
Amin –
‘The way they play’
There you have it folks, the kids say the darndest things.
What would your kids say to these questions above?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.