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All the omens look good for the All Blacks as the countdown to the 2011 Rugby World Cup is almost at an end and the rugby we have all be starving for is upon us.
The All Blacks have coughed and spluttered a little towards the end of their preparation, but as sure as night follows day, New Zealand will be ready tonight.
The most positive omen I see for the All Blacks is the return of the moustache into the playing ranks of the world champions in waiting.
The moustache has well earned its place in rugby folklore.
Day 1: Typical raining crap day in Blighty in some backwater called ‘Rugby’, a genius by the name of William Webb Ellis decided he would pick up the pigskin and make for the line.
The rest, we know, is history. However fellow rugger buggers, when you examine that famous painting of that most sacred of days, guess who’s got a slug? Willy Webb himself. Not bad for a schoolboy!
As we move through ages or even through the cupboard of some old past president of any rugby club on this planet, once you blow the dust off a few old black and whites one thing apart from the game itself unites the players: just about all of them are sporting the tash.
Now history has thrown us some distinguished and most recognizable moustaches.
None more recognizable that former Austrian Corporal-come-aspiring global leader Adolf Hitler. You know the bloke I am talking about?
Well although rugby was dropped from the Olympic calendar years prior, Adolf in his wisdom decided to host a rugby tournament in May of 1936 with four nations participating, the Italians, the Romanians, the Germans and the French.
The final was played on 17 May between Germany and France on a wet boggy track, the referee being a bloke by the name of B. Heissel of Switzerland.
After storming to a 14-0 lead at half time after two thrusting, penetrating runs by German number 8 A. Koch, France fought back to take victory by 19-14.
It is reported rugby was quickly removed from the Third Reich’s sporting manifesto.
Within three years of their loss to the French, the Germans, Italians and Romanians had formed a military axis and we all know how that one finished.
If only the French had lost! But Hitler, his moustache and rugby will linked forever!
War quickly passed on and we got back on with the rugby. The moustache was not prevalent but featured in most national teams throughout the late 40s, 50s and 60s.
However a decade of greatness for the moustache dawned on 1 January 1970: the Welsh were singing and not far above those Boyos’ top lip was none other than the slug.
Mervyn Davies, Derek Quinell, John Taylor and Graham Price all wore the slug at some stage during the 70s. It could be argued the slug was there when Wales rose to the top of world rugby.
Even when Australia re-emerged as a rugby nation in 1978 at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Australian prop Steve Finnane broke the jaw of Welshman Graham Price. Common denominator: both had moustaches!
The moustache was not exclusively Welsh during the 70s. All Blacks such as Bernie Fraser, Murray Mexted, John Ashworth, Gary Seer, Graham Mourie, Grant Batty to name a few all were ambassadors of the tash.
Some say the game between the Barbarians and the All Blacks in 1973 at Cardiff was the greatest game of rugby ever played. After viewing it I think a moustache was required before taking the field!
I mean in size of tash-to-body ratio, Kiwi winger Grant Batty should have been six foot four!
One of the darkest moments of All Black history during the 70s was the sending home of Otago hard man Keith Murdoch for assaulting a guard at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff after a test.
Well Keith, don’t blame that handle-barred beauty you grew for the tour! It was a gem and deserved to stay, even if you were sent packing.
We move into the 1980s and in particular New Zealand’s crowing rugby moment, winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.
Well look who’s got a moustache: Zinzan Brooke, Andy Earl, Richard Loe, Murray Pierce, Wayne Shelford, Gary Whetton, Craig Green, Bernie McCahill, Joe Stanley and Terry Wright.
Two thirds of the bloody team wore the hedge. The French had one, Laurent Rodriguez. New Zealand go onto win – coincidence?
Looking at other World Cup Finals the moustache has always been there. Like a symbol from yesteryear, reminding us of games glorious past, subtly linking us to William Webb Ellis himself.
In some cases the moustache has been accompanied by the much less effective and poor cousin the beard, however the tash was always there.
1991: English flanker Mike Teague. 1995: All Blacks Little, Iremia, Loe and Brown did the face proud. 1999: It was Australia’s turn to stand up and thanks to messers Foley and Noriega, the slug was there.
2003: Jason Robinson and Jason Leonard both did enough to qualify the moustache as being present and again, thanks to the poms in 2007 the slug shone due to the style of Chuter, Sheridan and again Robinson.
So we move into 2011 and the slug once again found itself embroiled in rugby controversy. Aspiring Japanese fly-half Ryoheie Yamanaka was banned for two years after steroids were found in his system.
The young man claimed it was a cream he was rubbing into his top lip to assist in growing his moustache!
Even the Japanese are onto the edge the hedge can give a player. Unfortunalty for Yamanaka he and his slug will have to sit this one out but we wish them both well and a speedy recovery.
Which brings me to the 2011 All Blacks. I like them. It appears they have taken the advice of their ’87 counterparts and the moustache is making a comeback into the team.
Franks (x 2), Hore, Whitelock, Vito, Kaino, Afoa, Woodcock Thorn, Carter, Nonu, Smith, SBW and Jane have all shown the slug during the 2011 calendar year.
Sadly most of their slugs have been accompanied by that imposter, the beard but the boys seem to be getting the message.
Slug equals rugby success. If times get tough for Henry and co, I implore them to do away with the Gillette set and grow your way into rugby folklore!
History awaits!
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.