Rugby Religion
As part of our adventures of living New Zealand, we've come to realise the country's religion of choice is not Catholicism, not Anglican . . . . it's rugby. And, this year is something like Ramadan with less ritual . . . . it's the rugby world cup. It only comes around once every four years, so it's a big deal.
This year, the world cup is in France and the whole thing lasts about two months. And, Rod's into it. . . . this shouldn't be a surprise. Anything that involves a ball, Rod can quickly become addicted to. The exception is Cricket. He tried playing Cricket the first year we lived in NZ. You have to realise that most Cricket games last for five days . No that wasn't a type-o. Five days! Short ones last three days. Recreational cricket can take place in an afternoon. However, it's just not your typical 'game with a ball.' Rod reckons the best way to watch cricket is with a good book. A typical score for one team is around 600 runs - - and, after five days it is common to end in a tie! Go figure.
Anyway, back to rugby.
So, the All Blacks (our team's name) is the national team. There is only one team, unlike in American sport. Kind of think of it as the Olympics . . . . you have a national team only. The All Blacks were pumped up as being the best team in the World Cup this year and even other country's were tipping us as winning the whole shebang.
Rod has been waking up at 2am . .. 4am to watch matches between obscure country's like Samoa, Fiji, Georgia, etc. This goes on for about a month, until finally the quarter finals start and the All Blacks are playing rugby on a Sunday morning at the reasonable hour of 8am versus France. I even get up for this one.
It turns out to be a great game. We're in the lead for most of it - - - until the very end, when to the country's shock and horror, we lose by just a few points. I have to admit, even I was pacing the room during the last few minutes and felt a sense of disbelief and sadness that we had lost. The whole country went into mourning. Literally!
Firstly, our church service that day offered condolences to all in attendance. Then, for 3 days, there was nothing else on the radio - particularly talk radio - except for discussions around the reasons why we lost.
THEN, the Government launched an inquiry to find out the reasons why we had lost. The coach was fired.
THEN, on the news show the following morning, there was a psychiatrist on television giving people tips for getting over their depression. There was no laughter during this segment - - it was all very serious!
Only 8% of people in NZ go to church. But 99% love their All Blacks! It's an adventure - - not always logical, but an adventure.
Heather
This year, the world cup is in France and the whole thing lasts about two months. And, Rod's into it. . . . this shouldn't be a surprise. Anything that involves a ball, Rod can quickly become addicted to. The exception is Cricket. He tried playing Cricket the first year we lived in NZ. You have to realise that most Cricket games last for five days . No that wasn't a type-o. Five days! Short ones last three days. Recreational cricket can take place in an afternoon. However, it's just not your typical 'game with a ball.' Rod reckons the best way to watch cricket is with a good book. A typical score for one team is around 600 runs - - and, after five days it is common to end in a tie! Go figure.
Anyway, back to rugby.
So, the All Blacks (our team's name) is the national team. There is only one team, unlike in American sport. Kind of think of it as the Olympics . . . . you have a national team only. The All Blacks were pumped up as being the best team in the World Cup this year and even other country's were tipping us as winning the whole shebang.
Rod has been waking up at 2am . .. 4am to watch matches between obscure country's like Samoa, Fiji, Georgia, etc. This goes on for about a month, until finally the quarter finals start and the All Blacks are playing rugby on a Sunday morning at the reasonable hour of 8am versus France. I even get up for this one.
It turns out to be a great game. We're in the lead for most of it - - - until the very end, when to the country's shock and horror, we lose by just a few points. I have to admit, even I was pacing the room during the last few minutes and felt a sense of disbelief and sadness that we had lost. The whole country went into mourning. Literally!
Firstly, our church service that day offered condolences to all in attendance. Then, for 3 days, there was nothing else on the radio - particularly talk radio - except for discussions around the reasons why we lost.
THEN, the Government launched an inquiry to find out the reasons why we had lost. The coach was fired.
THEN, on the news show the following morning, there was a psychiatrist on television giving people tips for getting over their depression. There was no laughter during this segment - - it was all very serious!
Only 8% of people in NZ go to church. But 99% love their All Blacks! It's an adventure - - not always logical, but an adventure.
Heather
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