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It is five weeks out from another Rugby World Cup. This week I’ve felt the weight of expectation building exponentially.
I have had to remind myself to simply relax and enjoy the worldwide rugby celebration.
In the All Blacks versus Samoa clash, we saw how excited the proud people were to have the World Champions in their midst.
No bitching about how many of their players the All Blacks had adopted over the decades, no complaining that their team lost. There was only singing, dancing, waving and celebrating.
Samoa and New Zealand played like Roman gladiators, Luke Romano turned into ‘One Eyed Willy’, but fought his way back into the melee.
Colin Slade mimicked Mike Catt and clawed around on his haunches before confidently trotting off to be assessed for concussion, before earnestly returning to the fabulous encounter to further stake his claim as Mr Utility.
The clash was a true test, a match worthy of the occasion. Back home, the papers were grim, and gums were flapping about how close the Samoans got to the All Blacks.
I didn’t care. The game was exactly what I wanted. Good, brutal, rugby hustle all the way.
In the All Blacks’ victory against the Pumas last night, it was unusually quiet.
Did the impending vacuum of the World Cup suck all the fun out of the game? With the All Blacks winning 39-18, there was cause to get excited.
Did even the usually vocal Los Pumas supporters lose their voice in the Christchurch pressure cooker? Dan Carter slotted a penalty and not more than a purist murmer seeped out of the television speakers.
World Cups are usually won with such goal kicks. We should be cheering our hearts out and singing loudly and proudly. I bet England fans would be doing it all day long. Are we not entertained?
Has 20 years of Super Rugby spoilt us so that a game with few tries is not a good game anymore?
I was at the Hurricanes versus Highlanders Super Rugby Final, and I chanted a new Ah Oo–Nonu! with my brothers in arms. I attended the game with a pair of British lads who thought it was a brilliant match.
I too thought it was a classic game of rugby. Lima Sopoaga, Marty Banks, Eliot Dixon, Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo and the Highlanders showed how to win finals. They had clutch plays, composure under pressure, and the belief and knowledge of what to do and then doing it.
The Hurricanes, bless them, played the same as they had over the course of the season. But where the strategy was consistent, they did not keep composed. Eight points were lost through missed penalties and conversions, and it mattered.
I admit I lost it, and walked home in a huff. I did not wait to see the new champions crowned. I should have had more fun and respected the brilliant effort by applauding their championship win.
Los Pumas’ Sanchez slotted an equally good penalty goal, and the cheer was larger than the All Black supporters’ previous attempt. Why am I not surprised?
Carter then finds his mark again, and I do believe the cheers for the three points are getting louder. The All Blacks spurned a shot at goal but would go on to score.
I happened to write a rhyme (to the tune of “when the saints come marching in”) for the Black Caps for when they played England at the Cricket World Cup and we sang it with glee. I also remember the immense ‘Southee’ chant and thought this is the way it is meant to be.
However, it barely ever is for the New Zealand sports fan. We tend to fixate, get too caught up in the moment. As phenomenal as the atmosphere is when this happens, it is not as much fun as it could be.
We pay for an experience, and for fun, so why not make it more enjoyable?
We can’t just leave it to the players to entertain us. I believe if the fans are having fun, the players will have fun. If we sit there nervously, the more players will feel that nervous energy. If we are calm and cool and joyful, I like to think the energy we create is the energy our players will feel in support.
One of the Brits swears to enjoy West Ham football games more than seeing his own club play; he says the songs are better and everyone sings them.
There is no doubt the All Blacks, England, South Africa, Wales, France, Australia and Ireland are the teams that can win the Rugby World Cup this October. If all I hear is an ‘All Blacks’ chant from New Zealand fans, then I think the mission will fail.
Have some fun New Zealand. Make up some songs and share them with the whole team. I believe in the All Blacks’ philosophy. Let’s remove the pressure, increase the fun and composure, and enjoy supporting our boys.
Only then can we guide the William Webb-Ellis Cup home.
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.