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.
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.
Nick if I wanted to go political I would say in response to Chris Luxon saying this year that under National NZ has twice won the RWC that in fact under Labour NZ has won the RWC 4 times and lost it 3 times and under National NZ has won the RWC 5 times and lost it 6 times, which is all pretty inconclusive to me. Oh and for good measure Labour got into government once straight after NZ lost the RWC and once straight after NZ won the RWC and NZ won it twice at home when Labour was in government and once while National was in government.
Discussed, and yet still not supported by NZRFU. Beyond belief - that Board needs to change and start to address the reality of 2022. An amazingly inspiring Black Ferns team that achieved what we all hoped for but were definitely not the favourites at the beginning of the tournament versus a lacklustre and flat All Blacks team that seem to have lost their mojo. Which one of those two teams best deserves the bonuses? I know where my vote goes....
Nick I was just reading about how David Lange refused to attend any of the games at the 1987 RWC only a couple of months before the general election because there were players in the All Blacks who had gone on the Cavaliers tour in 1986 after his government had withdrawn from supporting the planned 1985 tour of South Africa, which didn't go ahead. That was nicely complemented by how Nelson Mandela in 1995 unified South Africa through the RWC by the way he donned the Springbok jersey for the RWC final, which was a gesture that John Key tragically didn't get when he donned the All Black jersey for the 2011 RWC final weeks out from the general election. I cannot help but think that Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson after supporting the Black Ferns in other ways decided that the best way to take the politics out of it was to get the Governor General Cindy Kiro to do what either of them could have done at the RWC final.
Another great read Nick. Thank you. They were truly amazing these women and so good to hear a crowd sing along in te Reo and show their admiration for skill and passion. What a pity we can't see another game next weekend.
When you say “people that (sic) wouldn’t normally be interested in rugby” were talking about the game, perhaps you could’ve been more specific. WOMEN who their whole lives didn’t care a jot about rugby have been captivated by the Black Ferns. A friend aged 70 went to the final at Eden Park: her first rugby game since she was 11! That’s why the crowd was so joyful-- unlike many other sporting fixtures, it wasn’t full of drunk men.
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.
It was all of those things Nick! Plus free-to-air TV at a good time for all
Nick if I wanted to go political I would say in response to Chris Luxon saying this year that under National NZ has twice won the RWC that in fact under Labour NZ has won the RWC 4 times and lost it 3 times and under National NZ has won the RWC 5 times and lost it 6 times, which is all pretty inconclusive to me. Oh and for good measure Labour got into government once straight after NZ lost the RWC and once straight after NZ won the RWC and NZ won it twice at home when Labour was in government and once while National was in government.
It's disgraceful that only after they win are bonuses being discussed.
As to Qatar , yet another sad example of how screwed up FIFA are.
Discussed, and yet still not supported by NZRFU. Beyond belief - that Board needs to change and start to address the reality of 2022. An amazingly inspiring Black Ferns team that achieved what we all hoped for but were definitely not the favourites at the beginning of the tournament versus a lacklustre and flat All Blacks team that seem to have lost their mojo. Which one of those two teams best deserves the bonuses? I know where my vote goes....
Yes Nick, I agree with all of that. Thanks for your writing as always!
Nick I was just reading about how David Lange refused to attend any of the games at the 1987 RWC only a couple of months before the general election because there were players in the All Blacks who had gone on the Cavaliers tour in 1986 after his government had withdrawn from supporting the planned 1985 tour of South Africa, which didn't go ahead. That was nicely complemented by how Nelson Mandela in 1995 unified South Africa through the RWC by the way he donned the Springbok jersey for the RWC final, which was a gesture that John Key tragically didn't get when he donned the All Black jersey for the 2011 RWC final weeks out from the general election. I cannot help but think that Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson after supporting the Black Ferns in other ways decided that the best way to take the politics out of it was to get the Governor General Cindy Kiro to do what either of them could have done at the RWC final.
A great boost for the country whatever way you look at it. Warms the heart
Another great read Nick. Thank you. They were truly amazing these women and so good to hear a crowd sing along in te Reo and show their admiration for skill and passion. What a pity we can't see another game next weekend.
Another winning column ,thanks Nick.
Interesting that the Qatari official describes homosexuality as a damage to the mind yet it is criminalized in his country.
When you say “people that (sic) wouldn’t normally be interested in rugby” were talking about the game, perhaps you could’ve been more specific. WOMEN who their whole lives didn’t care a jot about rugby have been captivated by the Black Ferns. A friend aged 70 went to the final at Eden Park: her first rugby game since she was 11! That’s why the crowd was so joyful-- unlike many other sporting fixtures, it wasn’t full of drunk men.