Go the All Blacks!!!

Jonathan Thomas tackles Sitiveni Sivivatu. Picture / Reuters


Earlier today, New Zealand's international rugby team, the All Blacks, decimated Wales at their home stadium in Cardiff, 45 to 10. Now, I am a bit biased, but the refs, no matter who the AB's play, seem to let the other team get away with a lot of rule breaking like being off-side, hands in the ruck, and not rolling away, while they hold the AB's to the very same rules. AB's captain, Richie McCaw, was "sin binned" for 10 minutes, leaving the AB's with only 14 players on the field, and that was when Wales scored their only try - only to have the AB's respond by scoring another try within about 10 seconds afterward. Yet, no matter, the AB's still manage to kick ass!

A bit more controversy occurred prior to the game today. It is an All Black tradition to perform the Haka after the national anthems are sung. The Haka is a Maori "war dance" of sort wherein they challenge their opponents, informing them of what they will do and call upon the various spirits to give them strength in their quest for victory. It is quite spiritual and moving to watch, and most opposing players and fans (except the Aussies, for one, who sing the insipid "Waltzing Matilda" over the Haka) enjoy it and respect it. The Welsh Rugby Union protested that it gives the AB's an advantage and wanted the Welsh anthem sung after the Haka. The AB's disagreed and did not perform it, opting instead to do it in their locker room.

I love rugby, and I have been impressed since day one with the fact that New Zealand, having a population of roughly 4 million people, has produced the most dominant international team in the history of the game. Rugby players are among the last bastion of real men in an otherwise pussified, PC world.

Go the All Blacks!!!