TOTALLY OT: Rugby

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Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Well, I'm very sad

With only 20 minutes to go, the All Blacks are beating us 44-21 - yes, I'd say that is a thrashing even if the game isn't over yet!

Angie I don't like your South African referee though- he sent off one of our spunkier players so now I don't even get to oogle him ROFL!!!!

So to all our NZ members - congrats... looks like your form is as unbeatable as ever. (I'm going to avoid my kiwi step-mum for a while I think!)

But, my beautiful big girl had a huge sleep today and is sitting up watching with me, and its so cute seeing her develop a love for the game that will no doubt feature heavily in her life LOL (She's a bit sad too at the moment). And I was so proud when she stood up and sang our national anthem at the start!!

Like I said, totally off topic LOL!!!!

15 years ago

General

10 replies

Latest reply was from Kate

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

<smirk>

No one is as hot in the Australian team as Dan!

15 years ago

MNsara

Veteran

I am such a rugby ignoramus, but we just watched Invictus so I actually know what you mean by All Blacks! Did they do that Maori dance at the start, like in the movie?

15 years ago

Inge

(website)

Moderator

I barely understand what you lasses are talking about, but glad to hear you are having fun Theresa (and that your sweet girl and you can share these special game moments;-)

15 years ago

kellygirl

Veteran

I'm curious since MNSara brought up Invictus--were the All-Black players actual All Blacks? I was wondering in particular about that huge, center--the one that seemed unstoppable?

15 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

So All Blacks' Rugby 101

The All Blacks is just the nickname for the New Zealand rugby team. The Australian team is known as the Wallabies and the South African team as the Springboks. It doesn't refer to the colour of the players at all, but either originated from the colour of the jersey worn or from a misspelling in a British newspaper saying that the team were "all backs" talking about the teams ability to run the ball around a lot.

The player that Kelly is talking about is actually a wing, his name is Jonah Lomu. He is of Tongan ethnicity - New Zealand is a pretty multicultural country. When he was at his best he was pretty unstoppable! If you want a North American sport comparison, my husband says running back (without the helmet and padding of course!)

The "dance" is actually called a haka, which is the traditional issue of a challenge (ie before a battle) by Maori. Samoans, Tongans and Fijians also have similar haka - using the word dance doesn't really feel appropriate to me, but I can see why you would use it for want of a better one.

15 years ago

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

I watched some of this debacle last night. Sigh.

You know what made me the saddest? Is realising that my knowledge of union and the players has slipped so much over the past few years! I mean, last time I was watching, George Gregan and Stirling Mortlock were young guns! How did I get so old????!!!!

PS - I don't think I'll ever understand the rules, it's all a bit beyond me. I just watch it for the shorts and the shoulders!

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Greg and I have special feelings for the Invictus story as we were actually living in Cape Town at the time. Surreal and magical moments for South Africa to say the least.The real Joel Stransky was my main man for years. I was 25 and Greg was 27. We were at a friend's flat down town and we CLEARLY remember the tension of the final like it was yesterday. A once in a life time feeling.

I sound like a rugby supporter but I'm not really, so you can loathe the South African referee with all your heart, T! Hope your team wins!

15 years ago

Sally

Veteran

I'm a kiwi but I wouldn't even have known they were playing or that they had won! shows my interest in the sport.

15 years ago

Theresa

(website)

Veteran

Final score was 44-28... not to us LOL Em became grumpy and said it just wasn't fair - but I assured her there were some teams out there we could beat!

LOL Fi, yes, I will give you that - there is absolutely nothing wrong with a high scoring game against you guys because we get to see Dan in action plenty!!! Hate to admit it, but you do have several rather attractive players on your team now!

The Aussie selectors aren't thinking of their female supporters at the moment LOL KP I'm actually a bit like you - pre-kids I knew every player, now, they are all new, so when I'm staring at Drew Mitchell, I'm actually remembering the image of him when he very first started and still had a head full of lovely hair and that young innocent school boy charm LOL (OK and that just made me sound like I'm a grotty old woman... but he's only a few years younger than me!)

Great 101 too Fi! I was explaining the Haka to Em last night.

Invictus is probably my favourite movie ever at the moment - Angie I was weeping at the cinema just thinking about the impact it must have had on locals and now to hear that you were there makes me want to start weeping all over again... And I was so impressed that they had the actual players nuances down pat for the movie - like John Eales' tape around his head and Jonah was just perfect.

OK I think I need to stop now! All my brothers played, my step dad played, my ex-H played, I was the "water girl" for our Open Schoolboys team in my final year of school, and until I had the girls, I was at the rugby nearly every weekend - gosh Em was born the day of a Bledisloe Cup match (and no I didn't plan that!), so Rugby is very much in my blood and I can totally appreciate that it does nothing for most others! (Kind of the way every other sport does for me LOL).

And now for something completely different, the girls and I are off to a Wedding Expo this morning LOL (My bro's g/f has a stall there so we are going for support). Can't get much different than rugby and a wedding expo I wouldn't think LOL

15 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Angie, I was studying in South Africa when they won the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The impact and celebrations were nothing like they were in 1995, but it was still a very exciting time! There were fireworks and people dancing on cop cars and lots and lots of partying! Watching South Africa's team in their Rugby World Cup games was the best introduction to the sport that I could have asked for. Though it was rather disappointing how many of them still didn't know the words to most of South Africa's national anthem...

15 years ago

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