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Perhaps it was nerves or perhaps it was a dream run on the M4 but I got to my seat early on Saturday night, and for a good 45 minutes before kick-off I soaked in the atmosphere at the 2014 Super Rugby final.
I thought I’d be overwhelmed with excited anticipation. Strangely, a nervous energy filled me with an unfamiliar reluctance at the thought of the game beginning.
For the first time in a long while, I started to feel doubt.
Perhaps the New Zealand media had been right, and the Waratahs forwards were indeed ‘soft’. Perhaps the Waratahs’ superior running game would mean nothing when compared to the finals experience of the Crusaders.
It dawned on me that my 14-point win prediction may have been as much about subconscious insecurity as it was about confidence.
Here I was, the sucker with high hopes. All week expecting the Waratahs to win the ultimate prize in provincial southern hemisphere rugby, not knowing that the high hopes I had were a cataclysmic count of eggs before they’d hatched.
It seemed for a minute that all those Crusaders fans I had seen outside the ground knew something I didn’t. My confidence was fading with every incremental noise level of the pre-match crowd.
But then I started to listen in to the conversations beyond my own group. I must admit that at a Waratahs match I find the general conversation a little fickle. In contrast, when I lived in North London I remember fondly the in-depth conversations I had about rugby, ranging from which animal would be selected in a zoological XV to which players should be selected in a world XV.
I, like many I know, find that the average Waratah fan is not likely to talk about rugby. Office politics, relationship issues, and superficial nonsense are what I expect to hear from fellow fans pre-match. But the conversations I overheard were for once all about the rugby.
My mates and I all agreed that for the first time in a long time the Waratahs supporters around us seemed knowledgeable, and even better, they seemed passionate. My confidence began to grow again. Indeed, I was about to witness something special. My wish had been granted. The Waratahs crowd would not look sideways at someone if they showed a bit of passion.
As the Crusaders ran out, a large group of Crusaders fans appeared as if from nowhere to my left and right. I felt overwhelmed by their presence. They cheered with an over-confidence that momentarily put the doubt back in my mind.
But then the Waratahs appeared and the roar of the crowd hit like an explosion. The very Crusaders fans that had seemingly engulfed me now looked as meek and worried as I had a little earlier.
The wave of positivity from the Waratahs fans had no doubt infiltrated their thoughts. I saw the body language of the Crusaders players subtly change from confident to hesitant. I saw the Waratahs players soak up that energy. It was about to be game on.
The game began and the positive energy of the crowd had indeed made a difference. All that pent-up anxiety was now pure positivity and for the opening 15 minutes the Waratahs ran those champion Crusaders off their feet. The crowd’s almighty roar at the beginning of the match played a massive part in bringing the Waratahs their first Super Rugby title.
I will never forget the beginning of that game. For the first 15 minutes the Waratahs played like gods among mortals. I got a feel for what it must be like to be an All Black fan.
Of course the game had many ebbs and flows. The Crusaders did enough to wrestle themselves back into a winning position on a couple of occasions. They were inspiring in the way they never gave up.
As Bernard Foley’s unlikely kick seemed to dip before the posts, I was sure our proverbial goose was cooked. But the kick made it, and after a slight pause of disbelief, 60,000 fans roared louder than any crowd I’ve ever been a part of.
What a final. It was one to remember, and not just for the wonderful Waratah victory. It was a fantastic experience just to have been part of that crowd.
If I never write for The Roar again, I feel my job is done.
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.