Brothers in Arms
My blog last week was titled ‘Anyone but Aussie’. I take that back.
I did mention our relationship was like the big brother-little brother syndrome where “you love ‘em but nothing riles you more than when he’s giving you heaps.” And nothing pleases you more when you’ve come out on top. The All Blacks did that against the Wallabies. But, like a brother who realised how wounded his sibling was, I ended up feeling sorry for them, even more so when the Wallabies were such uncommonly graceful losers. They admitted they were clearly second best and, despite the over-the-top abuse they’ve got in New Zealand, stated their desire to see the All Blacks win to keep the World Cup down under. Someone asked me if the Wallabies had won last weekend’s semifinal whether I’d I want them to win the final. ‘No way’ I replied, but that’s because it would have meant a third World Cup triumph for the Wallabies while the All Blacks would still be sitting on one. And as France had never won it, despite reaching the final twice before this year, it would be far more bearable if they beat Aussie (beating the ABs, however, would be unbearable).
No chance France?
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought, ‘Yes, the ABs have done it, the World Cup is ours!’ following the semifinal win against Australia. After all, the draw determined it should have been the final until the Irish swamped the Wallabies in the wet at Eden Park in Pool Play. But as the days pass on and we’re getting closer to kick off, I’m starting to get anxious. I’m starting to think it won’t be the walkover in the park we’re all expecting. And it’s not solely based on the 1999 and 2007 RWC defeats to the French. I was at Eden Park in 1979 as a 15-year-old to witness France’s first victory on New Zealand soil. They scored four tries to two, playing dazzling rugby and won 24-19. It was Bastille Day, their national day. I’ve seen the All Blacks lose to them on French soil in 1977, 1986, 1995 and 2000, lose both tests at home in 1994, including one at Eden Park (still the last time the ABs have lost at Eden Park), in a series that saw a young debutant winger so out of sorts against the French he was dropped for the remainder of the season. It was Jonah Lomu. Sure, the French have been pasted by the All Blacks on numerous occasions, but that’s often when they do respond, like in the 1999 semifinal which was only three months after the All Blacks smashed them 54-7 in Wellington. I’m still confident, but wary, as I’m sure the All Blacks are.
Kaino’s my King for IRB Player of the Year
It’s great to see three All Blacks nominated for IRB Player of the Year, particularly as they all have a Maori and Pacific connection with Maori-Niuean Piri Weepu and Samoans Jerome Kaino and Ma’a Nonu among the six along with Wallabies Will Genia and David Pocock and France captain Thierry Dusautoir. For sheer consistency, brutality and awesomeness it’s Jerome Kaino for me. Ma’a deserves to be recognised, too. He missed selection for the 2007 World Cup squad but resisted overseas offers to stay and fight his way back, which he’s done brilliantly, even with SBW coming onto the scene.
Same for Piri. Like Nonu, he bounced back from missing the 2007 squad, which convinces me even more both would have helped turn things around. Piri has always been my No 1 halfback pick, so I was frustrated he hasn’t been able to assume the mantle until the past couple of games. And while he was vital in both their knockout wins against Argentina and Australia (despite his goalkicking woes in the semi) it’s surely not enough to win it over any of the other five who have been consistent, world class performers on the international stage for the past two seasons and longer.
24 Years
This might sound picky, but why did the All Blacks knockers take such delight in going on about being chokers and saying it has been 24 years of misery? At the risk of sounding pedantic, as inaugural winners the All Blacks held the mantle of world champions right up until the 1991 tournament when they were beaten by eventual winners Australia. That’s 20 years, which is nothing - apart from me having way less hair and a son who wasn’t even one at the time and is now a roughly shaven hairy-chested university student. Still, most of us are thick-skinned enough to laugh at ourselves, especially as now after finally beating the Wallabies in the World Cup.
Radio Sport’s afternoon host Miles Davis obviously enjoyed putting this together before the tournament much more than they way his beloved England team performed at this year’s RWC.
WARNING – The lyrics are more crude than rude.
PS. Once the Cup’s done and dusted I’ll comment on whether the IRB truly are the baddies in world rugby for Pacific nations. Next week.
Do France have any chance against the ABs? Do you agree that Jerome Kaino should be IRB Player of the Year? Give us your views.