OK, New Zealand, we don’t ask for much. Actually, we take a lot. But right now Australia need a favour which will be mutually beneficial.
If you could beat England at the Gabba on Tuesday night, that would be mightily neighbourly of you.
Kane Williamson and his crew would then get to top their group in the T20 World Cup and Australia will have the chance to finish runner-up in the Super 12 stage.
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We’ll each get a spot in the semis. We may even meet again in the final. You shouldn’t mind that either. You gave the Aussies a flogging at the SCG last week and you can make amends for last year’s final.
But there’s a deeper pain that still burns from a “loss” in a final – that farce three years ago at Lord’s in the ODI World Cup when England didn’t beat your total or score more runs than the mighty Black Caps but somehow received the trophy because they’d hit a few more boundaries.
Not to mention they had more than their fair share of luck when Ben Stokes gained an extra boundary when he middled an outfield return to the rope as he dived to make his ground. Suddenly the equation of nine runs from three balls became three off two. You know the rest, despite trying to repress all memories of that frenetic finish.
Now if this is not motivation enough for you to show some Anzac spirit, we can offer more to clinch the deal.
First of all, pavlova is all yours. No one knows for sure if it originated in Australia or New Zealand but if it means that much to you, we will officially concede it’s a Kiwi delicacy.
More sweeteners needed? Lamingtons and Anzac biscuits, there’s a bit of drama about who came up with the idea for them as well. We will hand them over to the other side of the ditch as well.
We will surrender our half share in Phar Lap. All yours. He was born in NZ and even though his many successes all came after he was brought across the Tasman to an Australian trainer, you can reclaim him. It’s odd that his skeleton and hide were put on display in a Wellington museum while his heart has been housed in Melbourne.
Russell Crowe, Rebecca Gibney, Sam Neill, Jane Campion, Keith Urban. Take your pick, take the lot as long as you take down the Poms.
We’ll even stop mentioning the fact that Joh Bjielke-Petersen was born in the Land of the Long White Cloud whenever any cringeworthy reference to his reign as Sunshine State premier rears its ugly head. Don’t you worry about that.
The next young rugby star who has dual eligibility is all yours. Your whole country went bananas at Quade Cooper back when he was starting out and decided to wear Wallaby gold rather than the all black jersey of your mob. Whichever next big thing comes onto the scene we promise you get first dibs.
And if that’s still not enough, here’s the big one – we will renounce all rights to Crowded House.
We all know deep down it was Neil Finn’s band and even when he was outnumbered by his antipodean brethren in the varying versions of the line-up, it was something of a stretch to claim the group as Oz rock legends.
Don’t dream. It’s over. As long as you eliminate the English.
Hey now, hey now. Don’t let them win.
It’s your choice, bros. Win, lose or draw (in a super over), we will never stop with the accent jokes.
And of course, as older siblings tend to do, all bets are off if you don’t uphold your end of the bargain and send England packing. In that case we will go back to taking ownership of your favourite toys when your back is turned.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Doesn't "rile" us, just makes us shake our head and roll our eyes in bemusement.
piru
Roar Rookie
I'll let you in on a secret, we don't really care anymore, we just like how it riles you guys up.
King in the north
Roar Rookie
It’s funny this came from a real sports journalist. When I saw the heading I assumed it was a rookie roarer musing while on the dunny. The really funny bit is thinking that a team that got absolutely flogged by NZ and lost its warm up games to England deserves to get into the finals of this tournament. They don’t.
Colin Fenwick
Roar Rookie
While some (including myself) disagree on your recollection of the treatment of the boy from Tokoroa back in Aotearoa, I ackowledge the article was obviously tongue in cheek and I very much enjoyed it.
piru
Roar Rookie
Sorry, I'm pretty sure that wasn't deliberate
Cricket fan in SG
Guest
And John Clarke
Paul Suttor
Expert
As punishment for losing this game, we are now claiming Tony Martin as an Australian comedy icon
Lukestar
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Richard Wilkins.
PeterCtheThird
Guest
I’m sorry, I misunderstood. I thought we were house-cleaning, which would include Don’t You Worry About That, and absolutely HAVE to include Flo, who was the brains and malevolent driving force in that pairing.
Dirk
Guest
Yeh nah. Even if they wanted to, the Kiwis won’t beat England.
piru
Roar Rookie
You have an astonishingly different recollection to everyone else, Paul. I have to agree - I hate to pile on him, as I said I think he's a changed man these days, but he wouldn't have made the All Blacks bench at that point in time.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
It’s will never be enough Paul, if you live to be a 100. They are raised from the cot to it. My Kiwi friend was going on about it the other day and he wasn’t even born back then. The grievance is now embedded in their genes.
piru
Roar Rookie
You are evidently forgetting his solo career he launched in NZ much, much earlier before TOFOG, under the genuinely hilarious name “Russ Le Roq”. Well can't we all forget it? Please?
Cricket fan in SG
Guest
Yes, but he was first a horrible product of the NZ music industry. Send. Him. Back.
Cricket fan in SG
Guest
Oh, piru my man, You are evidently forgetting his solo career he launched in NZ much, much earlier before TOFOG, under the genuinely hilarious name "Russ Le Roq". And btw, TOFOG was the evolution of his first band in NZ, called Roman Antix. It's settled - that disgrace of a musician is a kiwi. Once a kiwi, always a kiwi.
Cricket fan in SG
Guest
Aaron Cruden was vastly better than Quade Cooper. You have an astonishingly different recollection to everyone else, Paul. Quade Cooper's worst performances were against NZ in NZ. He really talked up a horrible game. Do we remember the opening of the semi? The kick out on the full???
Rellum
Roar Guru
Crowe is a product of the Australian film industry
Paul Suttor
Expert
surely claiming joh bjielke-petersen is enough of a sacrifice without having to add barnaby to the pile
Paul Suttor
Expert
to his credit he seemed to revel in the notoriety in NZ and didn't back down, was never going to be Dan Carter but your mob would have liked the option of having him as a handy back-up
Paul Suttor
Expert
the first one is a fait accompli although it's likely that's why you offered it up & from Malcolm Fraser down, there were profuse apologies at the time and ever since for the other 1