The Bledisloe Tour
July 2nd 2007 00:13
All Blacks warm up at Bledisloe 2007 game
This trip isn’t about the bargains in Melbourne’s department stores and malls, its fabulous fashion outlets and historic market, although, no doubt, there is some shopping done. Nor is it about the museums or the galleries or the theatres. It isn’t about the city’s cultural diversity, although it is about a meeting of nations. It isn’t really about the restaurants or the cafes or the groovy bars or the clubs, although the pubs are a highly important part of it. It isn’t about the beaches, the gardens and river walks, although it centres on one of the parks. This trip is, first and foremost, about a game – a game of Rugby, the first of two, between arch foes, the Wallabies and the All Blacks for that famous and hotly contested icon of the great sport down-under, the Bledisloe Cup.
The first of the black and silver trickles through International Arrivals at Tullamarine mid-week. By Friday it’s grown to a flood. Almost ten thousand Kiwis pour into Melbourne - big and small business men, professionals, tours, top-end and budget, small-town clubs, suburban teams and school groups who’ve fundraised all year, families, couples and lone fans - all here for the ‘Blacks’. They spill into buses, shuttles, taxis, friends’ and families’ cars. They sweep into city hotels from five-star to back-packers, and turn friends’ and families’ homes into mini-maraes.
Saturday, before the game, is a time for gatherings and reunions – like Otago University’s Alumnae Association’s ‘symposium’ in a certain Richmond pub and for meetings both planned and chance – “fancy coming all this way to run into the bloody neighbours, eh?” “Geez, haven’t seen Wi since we played for Poneke in ’75!”. It was a time for old expats to resurrect their long-buried inner Kiwi, to paint the faces of their Aussie-born offspring and deck them out in the black; for hummings of God Defend NZ ”Hey, Boy, get on the internet and find the Maori words,eh?”; a time for pre-match rituals in pubs and living rooms – beers, anticipation, predictions, panel discussions, old-match replays on big and small screens, bets and banter backwards and forwards between Kiwis and the Aussies who’re out there too, now, in their grren and gold. Then, at last comes the evening crush of colours on trains, trams, buses and on the streets and paths around the MCG. Finally it’s time! Packed into the echoing G, all eyes are on the oval of green where the boys warm up, like little black stick-men and only Gerry Collins’ guiness-topped head a stands out. There’s the pride of the anthems, the awe of the Haka and the game’s on; the soaring excitement of the victorious first half, high fives and whoops at each score; the half-time uncertainties – “not far enough ahead…” “Can we hold it?” “It’s not over yet!” It’s a game of two halves, don’t forget!” then, with those terrible reversals and dashed hopes of the second half, all is lost and it’s over.
Outside, afterwards, black paraphernalia is flogged at a discount. The paths teem with triumphantly roaring green and gold. The black and silver cohorts head way into the shadows. They toss back sullen over-the shoulder shots - “See ya at Eden Park, mate!” “Wait till the World Cup, wanker!” They’re off to post-mortems, commiseration parties in the pubs and living rooms. “Yeah, we were too cocky!” “Ref didn’t do us any favours, mind!” “Na but they were just too clever for us!”
But then, you know “Tomorrow’s another day!” And it is! Sunday’s the day when all those other long-planned events and rites of passage take place; anniversaries, weddings, twenty-firsts “because the friends or the rellies are coming for the Bledisloe” - Ex-pat Moana has baby Harlan baptized, because the Godfather’s here for the Bledisloe! Tamaiti and Jade hold their engagement party, after all, we’re all back for the Bledisloe!
And what’s more, “there’s more to the Bledisloe than just one game” And there is! In two weeks time, plane loads of Aussies will travel the Tasman and Kiwi expats will head back home; green and gold and black and silver will meet again on a trip that’s all about the game.
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Comment by David
Is that the first time you've been to the G (MCG)?
Just curious. I have such vivid memories of my first time there (for another code).
Great article btw.
What is it with woman into Rugby combining Rugby and Fashion? Must be a chick thing, I guess.
Promise I won't rub the result in. I won't even mention it until the NZ match is over.
David ...
Comment by charles
ZCars
Ponderous
Welcome to Orble and happy blogging!
Charles.
Comment by DuskDevi
Rugby World Cup 2007
Hello Patricia...
Excellent post.
...but excuse me for a second and if I may?;
David darlin'...it's test-rogen!
I don't have much of a voice left after Saturday night... Bring on Eden Park...
Go The Wallabies!!
(sorry...my blood runs green and gold...)
Really enjoyed the read, looking forward to more.
DuskDevi
PS. interesting Charles. Didn't know you read or knew about Rugby.