Did anyone really expect that the final of the rugby World Cup against England would be as much of a rollercoaster of excitement and emotions as the Semi final against France? Both games seeing the lead change time and again, ending with plays where it looked like the opposition were going to claim victory in the final seconds.
The Black Ferns truly captured the nation’s heart, people that wouldn’t normally be interested in rugby were talking about it during the week, and especially on game day. What time is the game on? Making plans around it, no one wanted to miss them.
What was it about the team that captured our hearts?
Was it the joy of seeing women’s sport elevated to the highest level in terms of coverage and focus? That after so many years of being in the shadows of men’s sport, of the mighty All Blacks, the Black Ferns were filling stadiums and news bulletins in their own right.
Was it that it was here in our country, people got in behind it because it was a major sporting event in little old Aotearoa? A celebration of sport at the highest level, not shared with our cuzzies across the Tasman as major tournaments often are, but with the whole World Cup here?
Was it the skilful play from the Ferns, the never say die attitude that saw them playing expansive imaginative rugby in the face of the rather more controlled ten-woman rugby from the English with their unstoppable rolling maul that drove us to despair?
Or was it it the Black Ferns themselves, the down to earth nature, their wit and charm, their humour and fun, these fabulous sporting stars who were so humble and shared the nation’s excitement along with us?
It was all of those things.
The outpouring of relief and happiness at the final whistle resounded around social media as much as it did around that full to capacity stadium. They did it! They bloody dit it! Those who had found it necessary to step out of the room because the tension was too much could come back in now.
Such a titanic struggle you could only feel sympathy for the English players as human beings. Yes we took delight that the relentless rolling maul didn’t win but as individuals, who with the throw to the final line-out already had one hand on the trophy, it must have been gut wrenching. At least it was the whole team and not one person like the poor French player who missed the winning kick the previous week.
I cannot recall a moment of such euphoria across the country in recent years. Utter joy shared whether you were in the stadium, or watching on television, at the Black Ferns wining the World Cup.
The last time there was a Rugby World Cup at Eden Park, the men’s version, New Zealand won. But that was as much “thank goodness” that we had finally won “our” trophy back after failing to do so despite being favourites for five tournaments.
Wayne Smith was the assistant coach back then in 2011 and the coach this weekend, his post match interview comments showed the contrast between the stress and the pressure, the relief at just having won in the mens game to coaching this team of women who he said had:
“Taught him how to dance, how to sing, how to cry, how to laugh on match day. They’ve change my life.”
Jacinda Ardern posted about getting score updates on her flight to Cambodia and seeing the last 20 minutes after landing. Beaming at the result she called the team the perfect name - “Legends”.
“Rugby has always been a national sport but the Black Ferns made it everyone’s game, and you can’t put a price on that, they’re amazing.”
I reckon the Prime Minister should call a “Wahine Toa” public holiday, if only to see Luxon and Seymour lose their minds. Probably not realistic, but what someone needs to do though is pay the team!
The English team would’ve been given $30,000 bonuses each if they had won, but not our Black Ferns.
New Zealand Rugby confirmed to 1News today that the Black Ferns would not be in line for a bonus, saying the focus was on "transitioning our professional women’s players to a full-time employment model”.
Sure they’re not driven by money, we love the amateur tales of how they get by juggling work and sports and families, that adds to the whole story of the achievement.
Cool. Now give then the money - they bloody deserve it! And invest in the game.
The Rugby Union must capitalise on this, our Black Ferns deserve the same funding and attention as the All Blacks. These players are now household names and great ambassadors for the continuing growth of their sport.
Still buzzing after that game I was driving through West Auckland yesterday morning after Samoa defeated England in the semi final of the Rugby League World Cup, I have never seen so many Samoan flags! Some cars had dozens of them.
What an achievement by this small Pacific nation dramatically beating the hugely favoured hosts England 27-26 in extra time, a team that defeated them 60-6 in the opening game of the tournament only weeks ago
A similar story of an under funded team out performing the favourites, although this result was much more unexpected.
Something that really helped the success of the Rugby World Cup was it being free to air, the fact the big games were live for all to see. Sure there is no going back, in the professional era, the TV fees and what not are vital to fund the game. But surely at some point the likes of the Rugby Union or New Zealand Cricket are missing a trick in terms of growing support for their sports.
How do you inspire the next generation to be interested in a sport if they don’t see it on TV? Not to mention the cost of taking a family to a big game. It was great to see the price reduced to an affordable level for tickets in this World Cup, usually the cost of seeing the national team at Eden Park is prohibitive for many families .
Despite the reality of professional sport there is something that doesn’t sit right with me - how do these private organisations hold the rights to use the name New Zealand?
Do they return a dividend to the government? Not that I’m aware of, although they seem very focused on making money for someone. Shouldn’t there be some public interest, some benefit, some access by the people of New Zealand to watch the team representing them? Named after them? Like we have just seen with the Black Ferns.
Contrast the Woman’s Rugby World Cup with the largest of sporting events - the Men’s Football World Cup about to start in Qatar. What a difference in terms of sporting values and the joy from a game vs corruption and a total focus on money.
Last week on the radio I heard about someone from Qatar talking negatively about homosexuality. Not a member of the clergy. Not someone from an ultra traditional group with an interest in repressing the rights of others. But an ambassador for the event. Sorry let me repeat than - an actual ambassador for the event! This is the modern moderate face hosts Qatar wants the world to see?
On November 8, Khalid Salman, a 2022 FIFA Qatar World Cup Ambassador, described homosexuality as “damage in the mind” in an interview.
The beautiful game is an utter disgrace. This isn’t a case of - ok the selection of host was a dodgy looking decision as usual, a tight vote and maybe some of those “gifts” to the people voting had an impact. This is - OMG this is the most corrupt thing in the history of the world!
It is so blatantly crooked no one could make any case for it being a credible selection. Might as well just put your hands up and say”we took the money, this was entirely 100% down to bribes, sorry. (Checks notes) sorry let, me rephrase that, this was down to bribes, hookers, holidays, first class luxury, and probably a bit of blackmail.”
Did football come into it? Yeah right!
There were obvious lies about not running the tournament in the summer window when World Cups are usually held to avoid clashing with the big football leagues which dominate the professional game in terms of audience and therefore money.
“Don’t worry”, they said, “we’ll hold it in the middle of summer we’ll just put air conditioning in the stadiums, and we’ll look after the workers building the stadiums really well.”
“Fabulous, that’s that sorted” said the FIFA officials reaching for another golden bucket of caviar, some more champagne, a suitcase full of US dollars, or no doubt any desire they wanted met.
Some time later the Qataris came back and said “actually chaps, it’s pretty hot in summer, not sure you’ve seen where we are on the map but it’s really really hot, that’s why the country is comprised of desert and not green grassy fields - you know like you use for football. We think it’d be better if we hold it in the winter, when it’s cooler.”
And the Fifa officials briefly looked up from whatever they were quaffing and said “hang on a minute, we had a deal”.
This was responded to with a broad smile and the display of some fairly graphic and incriminating evidence in the forms of documents, photos, and video. “I think you’ll find this is a change you support Mr FIFA official.”
So the FIFA officials said “turns out winter, you know right in the middle of your football leagues, is the best time to hold the tournament after all, bit of a mix up there, oops.”
The sad reality is we all know the people in charge of our largest sporting occasions, the events enjoyed by the entire globe, are run by the most corrupt people on earth - FIFA and the IOC.
What a contrast to what we have seen here in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Black Ferns so talented and down to earth, and the people out celebrating Samoa’s win. They lifted people’s moods after so much doom and gloom.
After all the world has been through in the last couple of years the billions of people that follow football could so with some gloom lifting as well, a celebration of sport.
Could you put a price on having smiles on the faces of those people around the globe, as the Black Ferns have made us smile?
I’m sure FIFA already have.
Having said all of that I think the Women’s Football World Cup which will be hosted by Aotearoa and Australia next July will also be a wonderful celebration of sports at the highest level. I really hope Kiwis who might not usually be that interested take the Football Ferns to their hearts as well. They’ll have one hell of an act to follow!
The moment for me, and no doubt others, that will last long in the memory is the interview with Ruby Tui after the victory.
The utter disbelief and joy on her face, overwhelmed with positivity. Singing Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi, the crowd who were not going anywhere joining her in the waiata.
So many across the nation felt that special moment that money couldn’t buy.
Thank you Black Ferns, you have stolen our hearts.
Woohoo Ruby Tui you are amazing. Pure joy, straight talking, positivity, a balm for right now and a direction we could all take.
Excellent comments Nick. I have been following womens rugby for quite a while. Both the sevens,and the fifteens. Two of the best 15s games of rugby I have seen are the 2017 world Cup final, and Saturday's final . Both games were against England. In 2017 England were the only womens rugby team that had professional players. both games were tough matches, and fantastic to watch. I found Saturday's game hard to watch with the lead changing throughout the game, and England making such a good start. Then when Portia was literally knocked outof the game that was so upsetting. I took a couple of breaks but came back to the game, and I'm glad I persevered ,and saw how the Black Ferns scored their last try - Wow and managed to hold onto the lead.