The Game Played in Heaven

byZoopie

2.6K followers

Updated 1 year ago

A bag of leather, a mountain of pride.

Ever since I was a young nipper, “Rugby Union “ was spoken in hushed and hallowed tones.

The mighty All-Blacks were more popular than the Beatles and Stones together. The legends of past battles were reverently talked about.

And if you had legs like “Waka Nathan,” it meant you had tree stumps for legs and only the sharpest axe could topple you.

A Small Country

The population of New Zealand ( Gods own) was around 3 million people when I lived there and is now still low at around 5,000,000 as of 2021.

You can imagine the national pride when one ( some say, the only one) of our teams comes first on the world stage. (However it is great to see the ladies team is also extremely popular in its own right.)

And throughout the years the “ mighty” All Blacks have dominated the world stage when it comes to Rugby Union.

The Webb Ellis Cup

The All Blacks, currently rated number 4 in the world ( Oh the shame) are competing with other demented souls for “The Webb Ellis Cup” which is a trophy presented to the winner of the prestigious men’s international rugby union.

Webb Ellis is credited with inventing Rugby football. It is currently ( and shamefully) held by the Springboks which is South Africas team.

The run up to the semi finals has been exciting and there have been “ upsets” and thrashings like the AllBlacks thrashing of Uruguay with the final score 73-0.

And, yahoo, New Zealand beat Ireland 28-24 and moved into the semi finals along with England who beat Fiji and will face off against South Africa, the undefeated champions.

Sooo., clear as mud yep, New Zealand will play against Argentina on the 20th October and England vs South Africa on the 21st.

Is that it nooo. The race (Lol) for 3rd place is on 27th October and the “World Cup Final” takes place on the 28th October.

Come the 28th October there will be a nation of quivering livers with the males hands clasped clawlike around the bottle opener and screams of “DB ah boy” and “What’s he thinking bro” with bloodshot eyes fixed firmly to the screen and derision being gently hurled at the ref.

Ahhh, the land of the long white cloud and the footpath stained with yellowed obsequience.

Will this be the year that the All Blacks reestablish there on field dominance.

Like all professional sportsman and entrepreneurs we live and die by what is happening now. Not last week or 2 years ago.

We have to continue to put our heads in the ruck and scrum that sale ( woops ball) out again and again.

So get in there teammates and win that ball.

Coach Stevoi