This post is part of my Blog4NZ series. Blog4NZ, running March 21-23, is an initiative by travel bloggers to share memories, photos and stories from New Zealand in order to bring awareness to the fact that, despite the Feb. 22 Christchurch earthquake, the country is still very much open for business.
It’s been almost 2 and a half years since I last had my feet on New Zealand soil, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss it.
New Zealand is like the home I never knew I was missing until I visited there for the first time, and had to say farewell far too quickly.
Now, I find myself looking back through my memories regularly, blissfully reveling in all the happy moments I was lucky enough to collect while I was there.
Here’s one I remember fondly:
Watching the All Blacks Beat Australia
The sport of rugby is almost like a religion in New Zealand.
New Zealanders are fierce supporters of their national rugby team — the All Blacks — and usually have at least one or two local rugby teams or clubs that they support whole-heartedly, as well.
Go All Blacks!
As a girl from Ohio, I went to New Zealand not knowing much about rugby at all. I didn’t know the rules, the terminology, or how to follow a game.
But it sure looked damn cool.
So I watched rugby games on TV. I asked questions. And, eventually, I decided I was ready to see a live game.
Some friends and I decided to head up to Auckland for a weekend to see the All Blacks take on their bitter rivals, the Australian Wallabies. The All Blacks had just lost to the Aussies the weekend before in Sydney, and there was some real fear that they wouldn’t fare well on their home soil at Eden Park.
We stocked up on All Blacks gear before the match, got pumped up on the free train between downtown and Eden Park Stadium, and had chills running down our backs as the team performed their Kapa o Pango haka. What a lead-up to the match!
And then we cheered on our adopted rugby team.
As it turned out, the fear was unnecessary. The All Blacks easily trounced the Wallabies, 39 to 10, and Auckland — and the rest of New Zealand — celebrated heartily.
That one match and the feeling of camaraderie I felt there that night cheering on the All Blacks has definitely converted me into a fan for life.
I don’t usually choose sides or teams in when it comes to sports. But rugby is the exception.
I’m now an All Blacks fan, through and through.
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Have you been to a rugby match before? What do you think of the sport?
Go All Blacks! You have done well – but sadly we don’t always win against the Aussies and against the French is even more difficult to answer! Get ready for the Rugby World Cup 2011 in NZ and see who wins!!!
John in France recently posted..The New Zealand Way
Oh I know the All Blacks can’t win ALL the time (unfortunately…), but it was so great to go see a game where they won! And I’ll definitely be following along with the Rugby World Cup later this year to see how NZ fares!
Sorry but I can’t like this post Amanda – any time us Aussies get beaten in sport is a sad, sad day. Rugby isn’t really my sport though, Aussie Rules dominates the sporting landscape down here in Melbourne.
Keep up the great efforts with Blog4NZ!
Kieron recently posted..Carter Observatory – Wellington- NZ
I understand, Kieron. I’ve witnessed the intense rivalry between NZ and OZ when it comes to just about EVERYTHING. But, I have to be honest and say that I’ll always root for New Zealand!
Thanks so much for your Blog4NZ support! (Even if you are an Aussie
)
Hehehe, well fortunately us Aussies usually have the edge over you Kiwis so it’s all good.
Kieron recently posted..Carter Observatory – Wellington- NZ
I am choosing to ignore this comment! Haha. Except for the part where you called me a kiwi! That, I like the sound of.
So much fun, I really wanted to see the All Blacks when I was there but they didn’t have a game. I did see the Blues in Auckland and while not as big a game (and a different sport) it was still cool to see.
Ayngelina recently posted..blog4NZ- Delicious New Zealand
It was great fun. I think it would have been even more fun if I would have had a slightly better understanding of all the rules. But still. Definitely a great NZ memory!
Get ready to be shocked….(maybe)….I lived pretty much across the street from Eden Park for about 6 months and I never went to a game. Oh the horrors!! I am not into any sports at all (a kind of big reason why I couldn’t live in NZ or Australia for life) and rugby is no exception.
And I didn’t take a picture and I can’t find a link anywhere, but I saw someone in Auckland on the street one time and on the back of her shirt it said “Go Blacks!”. Even though I had been in NZ for a while, I still had to do a double-take and “translate” that shirt. Something like that would NEVER fly in the US:-).
Rebecca recently posted..Groupons and the Like
Shame, shame! Lol. Just kidding. Rugby isn’t for everyone. I get funny looks here in the U.S. because I don’t really care about football. Or basketball. Or baseball, really. I mean, I’ll WATCH sports. I just don’t get that into them. So I understand where you’re coming from.
And I know what you mean about that “not flying” in the U.S.! I remember thinking the same thing. Last summer, when NZ was playing in the World Cup in South Africa, I remember being slightly amused by the fact that most Americans watching probably would be really confused by the team’s name: the All Whites. If I hadn’t known better, I would have found that offensive!