Firstly, I’m a Kiwi. A proud Kiwi.
I love the fact
that, in sporting and general terms, we punch above our weight in so many ways.
I love the fact that many Americans, who likely couldn’t even point to NZ on a
map, will happily point out ‘Hey brah, I love those Oarrrsome All Blacks you
have’. As a Kiwi I’m wired to hate, or at least to refuse to
praise, our neighbours situated about 2,200 kilometres to the West.
But above all I’m a sports fan. And when I considered the
weekend’s sport - and please don’t hate me for this - one thing stuck out for
me; those darned Aussies had a brilliant weekend.
The decidedly average Canberra Raiders defeated the ‘if
there was a term to define just below decidedly average, that’d be them’
Warriors. It’s hard to understand why (although why oh why do the Warriors’
wingers, when defending, come in off their wing week after week and leave an
easy overlap on the outside for the opposition?) but this is not destined to be
the Warriors’ season - again.
As you read this an Aussie golfer may have just won the
Masters. Heading into the final round Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Adam Scott
are all within two shots of the lead. Question: where are all the NZ golfers?
There’s only so long we can hark back to 1963 (Bob Charles – British Open) and
2005 (Michael Campbell – US Open).
At the V8 Supercars meeting at Pukekohe this weekend,
Australian Jason Bright was victorious. I know, I don’t care either. But it was
still a win.
Australian rugby seems to be enjoying something of a resurgence
this year. The increasing influence of talented Maori and Pacific Island
players on the code across the ditch has been mentioned by a few observers in
recent times. But that’s a story for another day. Simply, the Australian teams
are playing some good and entertaining rugby.
Firstly the hapless Highlanders were defeated for the 7th
(10th if you count the end of last season) consecutive time, this
time by the Brumbies. Sometimes the Highlanders look likely, then make a silly
mistake or throw an unnecessary pass and the game is taken away from them. They
have the personnel but something isn’t clicking. The Tent (does that new
stadium actually have a nickname??) is certainly not a fortress like the House
of Pain once was.
Then the seemingly indomitable Chiefs were downed by the
Reds in their own backyard largely due to the frustratingly outstanding Will
Genia and the humble, reserved and likeable Aussie ‘Queensland Quade
Cooper’. I didn’t see that one coming,
but the Reds were deserved winners.
The shock at that result was nothing compared to
discovering, whilst preparing my Sunday morning bowl of Golden Crunch Weetbix
Bites, that the Western Force had somehow defeated the Crusaders. I immediately
wondered what odds the TAB might have offered to prospective investors for a
combination bet on the Reds and the Force and also immediately, while thinking
of my credit card balance, regretted not betting on that most unlikely duo of
results.
At least there were no trans-Tasman matchups in the ANZ
Netball Championship (although the Thunderbirds looked phenomenal vs. fellow
Aussies the West Coast Fever, who actually smashed – literally – reigning
champs the Magic last week) and thank goodness the Phoenix’s 2012-2013 season
is over. Please also note I’m deliberately writing this prior to the ANZAC
league test, which is usually not pretty watching for us. Ah, rugby league; with
its curious blend of Aussies who discover a great aunt who visited NZ in 1941,
thereby somehow making them eligible to pull on a black jersey and Kiwis who
somehow become Aussies while on a seven day trip to Surfers. As an aside, how
does ‘Aussie Jim’ James Tamou really feel when facing a haka?
So, cobbers, I salute you. Strewth, well done.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Did you really think I’d finish on that note?
Of course the exception to all this was a team I’ve
referred to in glowing terms previously – the mighty Breakers. Hey Perth
Wildcats – can you say ‘three-peat’? While there may be a tiny, tiny Aussie
influence in that team, that proves that Kiwi teams still rule.
Bring on the All Blacks vs. Wallabies clashes to right
some of these wrongs.
Kiwi Kiwi Kiwi. Oi Oi Oi.
Till next time,
SG
No comments:
Post a Comment