All Blacks defy the omens at Marseille
December 4th 2009 00:41
There is an ancient Maori proverb which says “If you bow down, let it be to a lofty mountain” Most Kiwis would grudgingly concede that the French team, with their famous “flair”, is a kind of Rugby lofty mountain. On the other hand most French people would happily concede that the All Blacks are “le meilleur équipe du monde” or the best team in the world. So, when these Rugby Titans clash, there’s always the expectation of a great spectacle with a thrillingly unpredictable outcome. As the French philosophically say, “Que le meilleur gagne” Let the best win!
The omens looked unpromising for the All Blacks’ in Marseille last Saturday. The French had seized the psychological high ground with their dark jerseys, leaving the All Blacks pale shadows in white. This departure from their signature black recalled the World Cup Quarter finals tragedy at Cardiff. So did the choice of the traditional Ka Mate haka which left more than a few anxious Kiwi fans muttering about the need for the heavier medicine of Kapa o pango.
Still, despite the omens the game did not disappoint. Once the All Blacks had control they gave us the kind of play that we all, New Zealanders and French alike, in our hearts, expect of them. Spectacular runs, bold tries and breathtaking feats of skill and daring secured a safe margin and led to a finale marked by cavalier flourishes, cheeky moves and strokes of sheer fun that smacked slightly of the Harlem Globe Trotters.
So, as for omens - firstly, the colour of the jersey really doesn’t matter. You can take the All Blacks out of the black jersey but you can’t take the black jersey out of the All Blacks. Secondly, neither does the haka. However, the suspense and drama of the game, which is its essence and indeed its point, lies in the question at the heart of Te Rauparaha’s haka “Ka mate (will it be it death, or defeat?) Ka Ora (or will it be life or victory?) Therefore, it's always a fitting choice for a confrontation with the French.
Enfin et jusqu’à la prochaine fois, le meilleur a gagné. In the end and until the next time, the best team won.
.
The warm up at Marseille
The omens looked unpromising for the All Blacks’ in Marseille last Saturday. The French had seized the psychological high ground with their dark jerseys, leaving the All Blacks pale shadows in white. This departure from their signature black recalled the World Cup Quarter finals tragedy at Cardiff. So did the choice of the traditional Ka Mate haka which left more than a few anxious Kiwi fans muttering about the need for the heavier medicine of Kapa o pango.
Still, despite the omens the game did not disappoint. Once the All Blacks had control they gave us the kind of play that we all, New Zealanders and French alike, in our hearts, expect of them. Spectacular runs, bold tries and breathtaking feats of skill and daring secured a safe margin and led to a finale marked by cavalier flourishes, cheeky moves and strokes of sheer fun that smacked slightly of the Harlem Globe Trotters.
So, as for omens - firstly, the colour of the jersey really doesn’t matter. You can take the All Blacks out of the black jersey but you can’t take the black jersey out of the All Blacks. Secondly, neither does the haka. However, the suspense and drama of the game, which is its essence and indeed its point, lies in the question at the heart of Te Rauparaha’s haka “Ka mate (will it be it death, or defeat?) Ka Ora (or will it be life or victory?) Therefore, it's always a fitting choice for a confrontation with the French.
Enfin et jusqu’à la prochaine fois, le meilleur a gagné. In the end and until the next time, the best team won.
.
| 73 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
