Charismatic

In my view failure is the most important part of sport, teaching young men to 'Play up, play up and play the game' and build a great depth of character. Even on a losing team there will often be men who still stood out, showed outstanding resilience and no contrition even if they couldn't carry their team to victory that day.

Also it's not just that you win but how you win. No doubt every man playing for the small Welsh town of Llanelli doubted their ability when they played the All Blacks in late October of '72, the All Blacks where a much better team...but not on that day. Those men ascended to the ranks of rugby legends but it meant they had to muster the courage to face very, very long odds for an improbable victory.

If you think a game is about winning you haven't understood the game very well.

BEVS

^

This.

garethwm

Good stuff Charismatic. Theres a more recent game too. Japan had won one game in all World Cups. That was against similarly lowly rated Zimbabwe in 1991. In 1995, they were beaten 145-17 by the ABs in a world record score. Who would have believed that the Brave Blossoms, with the most unrugby like moniker, and where rugby is a minor sport, could beat the 2 time winning mighty Springboks. But when the Japanese went over in the corner, in the dying seconds of the game, a man up in the stand, with a rising sun flag draped around him, had tears of joy and accomplishment and perhaps pride, cascading down his cheeks. They had done it! Neither he or I or the 20 mil Japanese watching on TV will forget that moment. Thats why I watch sport.

Alfresco

Yes indeed, it's great to see the other teams developing and being highly competitive.

Charismatic

The Japanese brought great honor to their nation .

Sorry, couldn't resist it.

Catchafire

Thats because no one expects them to win!

chocolate cake

Perhaps agree re: media comment, but the number of 'go the ABs' on every program is tiresome.
I'd would disagree re: cricket world cup, except for one match fully supported NZ in the cricket world cup.

bearskin

According to TV One news, there's a country called All Blacks that could be the first country to win two Rugby World Cup's in a row. lol.

bearskin

I support Leeds United (and England). Winning is certainly not a big part of the game.

Catchafire

Say what you want, but this is kinda awesome!

Blade Down Under

Aaah more trophies coming Australia's way.

Pity it's a disadvantage for the Aussies since the closet all black fan Nigel Owens is refereeing the game. I look forward to seeing yellow cards not being given to the All Blacks as per usual when that idiot refs. England and Ireland in particular have a few things to say about him

Also I find it embarrassing that the kiwi media and all black supporters keep telling the Scots to shut up about that South African ref. Yet can hear the toys being thrown out of the pram if a certain english ref was penciled in to referee the final.

Australia are very lucky to be here after that qf. Many accept we got out of jail. Wouldn't be the same coming from the all black fans mind. Are they still crying to their mummies about Matt Dawson's hakarena. Grow up for crying out loud!!!!

Damson

We went to see the All Blacks on Saturday and it was brilliant. We went in the ticket lottery months ago so didn't know who we were going to see and unfortunately ended up watching the Boks 3 times. Nightmare. During all three games we were surrounded by obnoxious Boks fans. They were rude, loud and totally unsporting. Out of the blue and with no preamble, a woman I ended up next to asked me why I was supporting the ABs if I was English. I explained I preferred their sprit, play and found them entertaining. She tutted, shook her head and just said "no, no, no", looked away and never spoke again. I was flabbergasted. By contrast the Kiwis were a delight. We saw the Aussies earlier in the tournament and their fans were lovely too.
I loved the Dawson hakarena btw.

Woodlea

Go back down your hole troll

bearskin

This is from the NZ Herald this week. Not always the biggest fan of the Herald, but every now and then they report on something and I just think "Yes, that - exactly"

The "silent majority" of New Zealanders are far from enthused when it comes to the All Blacks and the Rugby World Cup, a new survey has found.

Sport sociologist Toni Bruce, an associate professor at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Education and Social Work, is conducting a survey gauging Kiwi experiences and attitudes of the 2015 World Cup. Dr Bruce did similar surveys in 2007 and 2011.

She said this year's results so far revealed a group she calls "the silent majority" - people who are uninterested in rugby and the Rugby World Cup. They include "some who are actively resistant to what they see as rugby's dominance of New Zealand's cultural life", Dr Bruce said.

"They don't like what they see as the link to violence, the increasing commercialisation of the All Blacks, or the way that New Zealanders invest so much of their identity into sport."

"In both 2015 and 2011, people wrote that they would be 'secretly' pleased or would have to 'pretend to be sorry' if the All Blacks lost," she said.

Timmy Chch

I don't think it's the most unlikely thing ever for an Australia victory tomorrow. My gym's doing a predicted score sweepstake with a half decent prize and from the dozens of entries I'm the only one so far to plump for Australia ha ha. Probs don't help having your tactics displayed in the worlds media, schoolboy error!