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.
Mana
Guest
@etta 123 "Perhaps South Africa should do Zulu War challenges before their games. Why can NZ challenge and nobody else"? Manu Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands all have their own challenge before each game, even the Aboriginal Rugby League Team who in the past have played the Maori Rugby League which is very intense I must say, have their traditional challenge also and have traditionally been performing it for many years. As for the South African team doing a Zulu War challenge, no comment, perhaps some feedback from a South African would like to comment on why they dont have a traditional war challenge.
Mana
Guest
How the hell does banning or turning your back on the haka got anything to do with Quade Cooper. Yes he is maori and before he moved to Australia he probably grew up watching the All Blacks as a little boy standing in front of the tv doing the HAKA. If you want someone to point the finger at, how about looking in your own back yard. Australian media. The media in Australia put this young man on a pedistal, made him out to be invincible. He is a good player, I wouldn't say great but he can be. He won a Super 15 title with the Reds and all of a sudden he's this big super star that's going to go to his country of birth and win a world cup. The Australian media put so much pressure on him, talked him up every time, which made him the most over-rated player at the tournament, that when he didn't deliver the goods, all of a sudden it was the fault of the NZ public and media. Don't blame the HAKA for his performance. Throughout the tournament we put up with negative commentary saying our players are unfit, too old, Ritchie and Dan's injuries, and Aaron Cruden's performance. Did we complain, no. Go ahead, turn your back, show the world just how culturally insensitive you really are. Not surprising at all considering you dont even respect the indigenous people of your own country let alone a different country. Try embracing the culture of the indigenious people in your own country before you go dis-respecting other people's "LITTLE WAR DANCE" We are a proud culture and country and if you didn't notice we all came together as one, the HAKA and maori culture is taught in our schools, the haka is performed from grass roots rugby, wether you were a pakeha, maori or whatever it was performed with respect and pride. And by the way, saying the win was influenced by the ref is in bad taste.
Matt in Norway
Guest
Blah blah, bleat bleat... What is wrong with you?
Matt in Norway
Guest
Crikey KOG, get over it would you, and while you are getting over it, get over yourself as well. Your incessant moaning and whining about some percieved wrongdoing is thoroughly tiresome and repetetive. GIVE IT A BLOODY REST!
Matt in Norway
Guest
Evidently France has it's share of rednecks as well in Gaullois.
liam
Guest
"Rugby is your game and your succes is there for all to see. Winning or losing a world cup does not define you." gee, have your cake and eat it too huh? as long as nz fails to win the WC, it's choking jokes, 4 more years, hahahaha.... if they do, then it's the above. make up your mind people.
liam
Guest
hey wooblie, oh, it hurts doesnt it? it really hurts you. grab at anything you can... what can you find to say, to make things better? oh... "you won, but you're all still losers cos you care about the game too much" HILARIOUS. read some stuff on why the aussie cricket team used to be so dominant... the aggression, the will to win, the attitude of champions, the expectation from the fans.... and then have another look at your posts. hilarious. and.... sucks to be you.
liam
Guest
you know what else would be historically accurate in this respect? you could say the square wasn't used and you'd be right. you could also say the maori adapted to modern weapons and gave the brit soldiers the biggest scare they ever had. the land wars were only decided closely, and in some areas the brits got their butts handed to them for long periods. this all forms part of the reasons why maori culture is so important to the majority of nzers. there's a strong argument to say the maori were the hardest of all indigenous populations for the colonial army to overcome. some parts of the american colonization come closest and then only because of the larger numbers of combatants involved, but the conflict there was only ever going to go one way. feel free to hate the haka. feel free to make it a symbol of your bitterness for whatever reason. you dont have to clap it, or cheer it. turn on for kickoff and you'll miss it altogether... go make a cup of tea. one thing you should look at... who are the whingers about the haka? the press. sad little fans. who of the players that have ever faced it call for it to be abolished? very very few. i've never heard of anyone, though statistics say there must be some. people complain that it's a big advantage for the all blacks... that's crap. the teams that face it get as much of a rush of adrenalin as the guys performing it, and dont waste the energy. the majority of players say they love facing it.... the french fed off it immensely in the final, which is obviously what teams should do. no kiwi thought they should have been punished for their approach... thats what the whole things about! celebrate it, it's unique in world sport and not just for the ABs, for all the pacific teams that have brought in similar traditions and the teams that get to face it. the english sang swing low for a while, the supporters... get into it! if you cant understand what positives there are in the haka, i feel sorry for you. turn your back, who cares.
Gaullois
Guest
And maybe more easy when you speak English and you play at home and you want this WC since 24 years..etc. Understand the rules ? You joke or what ? It was not important because Joubert wanted an ABs victory. And the boss of ref is a NZ, don't forget this. You don't see the McCaw punch before the knee...Oh maybe this video is prohibited ? Don't see ABs or french team and watch again the match. Say me what you see ?
Lorry
Guest
we're just jealous... quit moaning fellow Aussies!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Gaullois - No mate we don't do it like that down here. If I say I didn't think that McCaw punched him that is exactly what I mean no European political statements just what I think is right. Now is McCaw often joining the ruck from the wrong side? - well yes, does he hold onto the ball to slow it down? - well yes. That is up to the refs to decide and he gets a good ride from them due to understanding the rules as well as they do or maybe better.
Gaullois
Guest
Maybe you are not an ABs supporter and you are their best enemy (as the England for us) but you loose semi-final against ABs and you prefer say that the ABs was bettrer in finale to justify your lost. maybe... Stud this...
Gaullois
Guest
No sorry, It's justly ! I see the video and McCaw cheat each time. Plays when he's not on the feed everytime..etc.
Gaullois
Guest
It's because the NZ know that the ABs didn't won, that all ! They want find something to justify the victory given by Joubert.
Gaullois
Guest
Ah Ah Ah. Pathetics NZ ! Yes you'll win everytime that a JOUBERT will be arbitror ! Ah Ah Ah Incredible this NZ !
Gaullois
Guest
Oh and I forget, I don't like frog but I like snails ! So the next match we eat the snails ABs, CHABAL likes them also Ah Ah Ah. The next ABs haka will be a KAIKAIKAI (you know like a scared dog). And it will be not a finger in the McCaw eyes but our di.. Allez les bleus ! Dans le cul les NZ !
Gaullois
Guest
Capital, Have you seen again the Donald penality ? If you see slowly you don't see something strange ? Maybe that the penality is not good..maybe.. Did McCaw finally welcomed the team France or the NZ continu to insult us ? Here, we have not much information on this subject. The press here said just that the NZ press harasses the French. French, they no longer want to talk about or then they would have much to say but don't liket to do so. They respect the Rugby. And McCaw put a punch to Parra, YES ! :)
Jimm
Guest
All Blacks TOO BIG TOO STRONG FOR LES BLUEZ!!!!
capital
Guest
Gallouis Just watching the final again and your comments about Parra - McCaw I will never agree with.
onor
Guest
This is awesome.. The aussies are crying... The haka will never be removed! Its treasured. Australia just dont want to respect it! cos its little old new zealand.. I love the way the boks accept it.. after its done.. some clap and use it to phsyc themselves up!! I dont think I've heard anyother country ever complain about it. I dont think I've heard the kangaroos complain when the kiwis perform it. Aussies. Come to New zealand.. Travel.. you'll see five year old children do it. High school kids.. college kids.. every primary school.. high school and college has one.. Its culture. Our culture. All black culture, and its become Rugby Culture. Why would they ever take that away? Forget it, it wont ever happen. It's a dance. Thats all. NZ is in touch with its culture. It remains. You have your aboriginal culture. Theres a chance to do something with it. So do it and please stop moaning because you cant beat us in a game of rugby. You would not be complaining if you could win a game.