Why this Cantabrian is backing the Brumbies

The problem with being born and bred in Canterbury is that we are in a no-win situation.

We are blessed and cursed with arguably one of if not the best and most successful provincial or international rugby sides of the modern era, who the general rugby public either love or hate.

As Cantabrians, we – like all rugby followers – dislike losing. But we genuinely hate losing to Auckland. Anybody but Auckland.

We secretly, in a slightly parochial order, don’t hate the odd loss to the Highlanders and Tasman (fellow mainlanders!), the Chiefs and the Hurricanes. If we must drop a game – any team other than Auckland (also known as the Blues).

This is of course the highest compliment that we as Canterbury supporters can pay to the Auckland or the Blues – we just hate to admit it.

To this end we Cantabrians have also secretly respected or supported Queensland rugby union teams and generally dislike the NSW or Waratahs teams. Why? Just ask any Queenslander.

(Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

As a rule, we genuinely respect the Brumbies and will usually support the Western Force and Rebels against NSW because they deserve it.

We love Fiji and Samoan rugby because they also live and breathe the true spirit of the game.

South Africa are our peers – highly respected and we love the contests.

We love to hate the Poms. We wish the Scots all the best and feel sure that a win is just around the corner. Just ask the Irish, who have been rewarded for persistence in recent years.

We have a long and deeply meaningful relationship with the Welsh, though are still struggling with the Bob Deans incident, and remain ever so slightly sheepish over the Andy Haden dive, but figure Brian McKechnie’s winning kick was advance payment for his Trevor Chappell encounter a few years later.

The Wallabies are the big brother we love to better … and let’s face it, we usually do.

But let’s not forget the Allan Jones and John Eales eras when the tables were turned – and these times make the current periods of dominance all the sweeter.

If the Crusaders or All Blacks win (as they usually do), we have to suffer the eternal whinging about anything and everything from the poor ref to accusations they got away with this and that.

As a supporter, sometimes a win is just not enough – it has to be a convincing win.

Many a fine victory has been sullied by the last ten-15-minute comeback by the opposition – usually after all the key players have been subbed off, often to blood the ongoing production line of new recruits and stars of the future.

(Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

If the Crusaders or All Blacks lose (as they do occasionally) we have to suffer the eternal crowing about anything and everything – ‘it’s the end of an era’, ‘great ref – they’ve been doin’ it all night’, ‘the sky is falling…’ – and as a supporter, a loss is as equally devastating as it is a pressure-relief valve at the same time.

Full disclosure – I come from a working-class family, whose father, way back in the amateur era, chose to leave the senior Canterbury RFU bench to continue to spend time on the field playing senior club rugby in Christchurch – a decision that baffled me as a child, but now makes perfect sense.

He also then chose to coach junior rather than senior teams in suburban Christchurch rugby – again, a clear decision to further the game they supposedly used to play in heaven.

I was fortunate enough to play club rugby from single-digit age until mid-20s, including multiple club and first and second XV schoolboy rugby in Christchurch as well as senior rugby in the Manawatu.

Playing in Christchurch on a frosty winter’s morning or during wet cyclonic southerly afternoons, or in Palmerston North when it rains incessantly, tends to polarise one’s opinion of the game.

Often when playing fullback, it seemed to be the loneliest and coldest place on the planet. And yet on a fine Saturday morning or afternoon with clear blue skies and a dominant forward pack, there was no better place to be.

Rugby union in heartland NZ was certainly character-building and instilled either a deep love and/or hate of the game.

Coaching junior rugby with my father was also a highlight – I have continued to follow the game (including short stints with my own children) and the Canterbury, Crusaders or All Blacks progress as a passionate supporter ever since.

I had no choice.

And now as we await the outcome of the second semi-final between the Blues and the Brumbies, I am torn.

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

On the one hand I relish the opportunity to see my beloved Crusaders test themselves at Eden Park against the age-old foe.

And yet deep down I would love for the Brumbies to upset the Blues and set up a decider in Christchurch.

Either way, the curse of being a Crusaders or All Blacks supporter continues. No matter what the outcome, the Canterbury or All Blacks rugby union legacy continues.

And win or lose (I guess you can’t say draw anymore), we will all continue to follow our hearts and history into the future.

And let’s face it – there are a lot of worse things we could do.

The final word goes to an old high school mate, who on the long bike ride home usually into an afternoon head wind would sing, “I’m proud to be a Kiwi, from Canta-biwi”.

Go the Brumbies!