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First of all, congrats to the All Blacks. I don’t say Kiwis, as it was a champion team that deservedly won the World Cup.
They have been the best team in the world for four years and deserve the win. That said, they were not the best team on the night and were saved by a poor referee.
Just look at the maul when the All Blacks were awarded the penalty that won them the game. Just look at McCaw and where he joins the maul and ends up.
Is it just me, or have the Kiwis diminished themselves, just a bit, in the way they have gone about this World Cup? I acknowledge the unique pressure of trying to win a World Cup in the one sport you dominate, but haven’t been able to, for 24 years, is crushing.
The desperation has been palpable and understandable.
Rugby is a game of tradition, of honour, and respect. It is expected those who play and coach the game will pass on those values.
I still feel uneasy when opposition kickers are booed, something that has only come along with the professional era. One need only witness the actions of the Welsh players when Quade Cooper went down, clearly badly injured.
Not a hand laid upon him, rather those hands gestured urgently for the trainers to come on.
Contrast that with the actions of the New Zealand media, coaching staff and players in the orchestrated campaign against Cooper.
His crime? He has had the temerity to have the odd altercation with the god McCaw.
This is a young, extravagantly gifted, but raw and flawed player, at his first World Cup. Is he that much of a threat that such a shrill campaign is needed to unsettle him?
I challenge anyone to name another rugby player so targetted at any other tournament.
You argue that is the way of modern professional sport? Fine, but you can’t have your cake and eat it. The IRB has decreed that all teams must stand by whilst the All Blacks do their little war dance (again, showing their remarkable inconsistency with the ridiculous fine for the French, whilst letting Ali Williams get away for two years for strutting towards the half-way line when performing the haka).
If you are going to respect the game, you must respect all of it, not the bits that suit you. The targetting of Cooper was cowardly, and the booing when he was injured spineless and shameful.
The players can do nothing as they will be restrained by their Unions, but supporters and fans can. Bollocks to the haka, I say.
Do your little war dance, but don’t ask me to respect it. You have lost that right. From now on, I will not boo or hiss, but will simply stand and turn my back on the haka in silent protest.
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.