Sunday, May 29, 2005

Review of the First Tour Weekend

The Lions have arrived! Yes they arrived at Auckland International Airport in the heart of Counties Manukau on Friday morning...And I didn't realise how many British fans there were in New Zealand especially this early in the tour.. Not.. When you think about it, New Zealand could simply just be a land for the Brits sick of Britain.. Of course, there are now Germans, Dutch, French, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Arabs, Indians, Africans, Italians and many other races in New Zealand, that it does feel like New York listing all those races.

Perhaps that explains why Brits perceive New Zealanders to be silent in comparison to their football loving race. The All Blacks are definitely the most successful rugby side in the world but when it comes to support fot their own team, the Home Nations somehow deliver a far noisier repertoire than us New Zealanders.. Cardiff Arms Park, Twickenham, Landsdowne Road, etc. Maybe that's why many Brits now live in New Zealand.. to get away from them crazy Liverpool, United fans who sing and drink Carling all day.. sure they drink Speights or whatever draught their region produces, but singing is only for drunks..

Having been to several All Blacks and Super 12 games, I can say that there are two types of All Blacks fans: the students of the game, and those who are just out there to party.. Students of the game would just jump at any infringement or good play and applaud or boo.. Even when they've drunk 2 packs of Speights.. Then there are those who are just out there to party.. These ppl are the ones who start the Mexican waves and really don't have a clue abt the game.. And I can assure u there are plenty of these in this part of the world - Australia included..

I will be going to one of the games, that is the First Test in Christchurch.. up in the Castle Stand.. I'll be there in my replica All Blacks jersey - much reviled by All Blacks legends of the past for devaluing the jersey - and jeans, as well as blanket, hoping to meet some Brits fans.. and hoping to get some numbers from any British gals :) but that is still under a month away and there's plenty of rugby - and university exams - to go before then..

As you can tell, I'm a New Zealander writing this blog.. it's a shame there haven't been any Brits out there writing a blog abt their travels through the Antipodes following their warriors in the biggest rugby tour ever known.. then again, it's prob too expensive to go to one of them cyber cafes and talk abt their exploits..

Finally, just want to comment on the Lions XV to face the Bay of Plenty, that is:

Gethin Jenkins, Gordon Bulloch, Matt Stevens, Paul O'Connell, Ben Kay, Richard Hill, Martyn Williams, Lawrence Dallaglio, Dwayne Peel, Ronan O'Gara, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Brian O'Driscoll(cap), Mark Cueto, Josh Lewsey

SUBS: Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Malcolm O'Kelly, Martin Corry, Matt Dawson, Charlie Hodgson, Gordon D'Arcy

Firstly, that front row looks ferocious.. And of coz that loose trio is prob gonna feature more often especially against the All Blacks.. and that includes Martin Corry.. having seen lots of Six Nations and that test Wales played against the ABs last November, i've seen enough of this guy to say that he is prob the best half-back in the British Isles.. Shanklin on the wing? perhaps a precursor to Gareth Thomas' role there.. That midfield combo of Henson and O'Driscoll is world-class.. I guess the only question may be abt first-five eighth.. O'Gara over Jones? no wait, O'Gara and Hodgson over Jones? but heard like Thomas, he's still playing in the French league and will come down later..

Plus it's the Bay of Plenty and even though I, an Otago man, have a secret affection for them especially after their Ranfurly Shield exploits last season against the bigger unions like Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury - btw the Ranfurly Shield is like the FA Cup except we play it in a challenge format.. but the Lions should beat them although i'd be disappointed if the Maori warriors like Anthony Tehana, Senio, Bourke, Lipton, Ormond don't play like their ancestors.. and it's a shame last season's most popular rugby player of the year outside the All Blacks, Glen Jackson is not coming back for this game, having left at the end of last season to play for the Saracens.. he was pivotal in BOP's epic season last year and he's always been a fixture in the New Zealand Maori team..

I'll talk more abt the wonderful place that is called the Bay of Plenty nearer to the test.. But the tour has begun at long last!

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home