Rugby World Cup
 

OK, so nobody cares, but they only play it once every four years. The last time they played the World Cup, I was in New Zealand becoming a born-again Kiwi.

Of course, I witnessed that sports (or "sport") fans over there can be even more idiotic than US sports fans. I even witnessed a bloody fistfight between a Kiwi and a Brit over a silly rugby match between their countries. But I became totally entranced by the New Zealand All-Blacks and the.. well... ZEAL they inspire.

I think I was in a campground in Waitomo when the All-Blacks lost to France. The game was playing in the shelter of the campground at an ungodly hour. I only got out of my tent fast enough to hear a child say, "Oh... they lost."

After a strong quarterfinal against the South Africa Springboks, I'm hoping the All-Blacks can really go all the way. If not, there's always.... four years from now.

(Picture: Keven Mealamu can't be stopped by the Springboks)

Cool. What were you doing in New Zealand? and how long were you doing it? It's on my A list of places to visit. Any traveling, touring advice to share? any not-to-be-missed places?

To stray back on topic, I saw a couple of rugby games in college, and went (briefly) to one after rugby party where that particular group revealed themselves to be quite disgusting. That sort of squelched my interest. But the "zeal" you mention, the emotion, is what makes all sports great. When that swings a game, to watch that happen.. is fascinating.

I'd say that was an honest sampling of the party atmosphere. My brother played for years both in college and after. I was almost recruited at one point but decided that I liked my bones as arranged by evolution rather than by some ape.

Is it true that Rugby players eat their dead?:)

And the living, within arms length, particularly females. One should carry a bat.

I went to New Zealand in 1999 because I was bored and I had a little money (OK, not much money, but I did have credit cards). I got a work permit through a student exchange program, ended up staying for 3 months and only worked 3 days during that time. I found the American dollar stretched just enough so I didn't need to work while I was there. I wanted to stay longer, but my visa ran out and I finally ran out of money too.

It was a lot scrunched into 3 months, so I don't want to get into all that. All I can say is Kiwis are the friendliest people you'll ever meet, and their country has EVERYTHING you'd want to see in nature (volcanoes, hot springs, mountains, beaches, glaciers... OK, so they don't have a desert).

I'd say One Tree Hill and Rangitoto Island is what you want to see in Auckland. Also on the North Island, Rotorua and Waitomo are not to be missed. Rotorua has hot springs, but I appreciated it more because that's the best place to experience Maori culture. Waitomo has a lot of caves to explore. Also, the best (and ONLY) 7-hour hike I've ever been on is at Tongariro National Park - it's called Tongariro Crossing.

Also, visit the South Island, or Kiwis will give you hell about it ("Didn't go to the South Island!??? That's the beast there ees!!") Did I mention the accent? I had trouble understanding it the first couple of weeks. It's like the Aussie accent but all the vowel sounds are screwed up.

Back on topic: I don't think I'd go to a rugby party. That would take courage and maybe a little masochism on my part.

While I was in NZ, there was a news story about a bloke who threw his infant across the room, because the rugby match on the telly angered him. Only in NZ (the child died). I guess sport fans are "the dark side" of the country, especially when they're drunk. I think I mentioned before, the bloody fistfight that I saw between a Kiwi and a Brit over a rugby match. This, of course, can be avoided by not staying in dodgy $12/night hostels. And probably staying out of dodgy bars during the World Cup.

Sorry about that last paragraph. I can't say enough GOOD things about the country. I even made a video (enzed.mov, 1.9 MB) about it, and it's also included in an interactive thing I did (world, shockwave).

(EDIT - replaced "sadism" with "masochism" - I always get those two mixed up!)

Oh, Bloody Hell
 

All-Blacks lost in the semi-final to Australia. :(

Go All-Blacks in 2007!

Afterward, this happened.

Unfortunately in America people don't need that much of an excuse to do the same ... :(

Ehn, but sports fans overseas are nuts. I'm speaking from no experience whatsoever, but I've heard (from people that experienced it) and read (from reporters that covered it). I think we have even had a few IotD's about it.

I'll stick to 2002 FIFA World Cup on my Xbox, thanks.

The worst we seem to have in this corner of the earth are small to medium scale riots after the event...the biggest ones that come to mind were in Montreal (Canadians Stanley Cup win 1993 IIRC, Metallica injury and ensuing riot 1992 or 1993).

bmgp, thanks for sharing some of your experience in New Zealand. What a great trip to give yourself!

bmgb is teh traval.

opps. b.
I have always flipped things- numbers and letters get turned around in my mind.particularly Es and 3s, Fs and 4s But thankfully, never too severely.

Australia has gone crazy with the rugby fever, i personally would rather watch paint dry than watch people i dont know run after a ball in a game i dont care about - and all for $AU400 a ticket!! but it seems i must be the only one in Sydney to feel like this. my entire office, the streets even my daily trains are ladden with Australian flags, green and gold gernseys and ribbons, and the echo along ever passage "Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!!! " :beer:

anyone would think its the olympics. i mean of course, im all for the returns we will see from the tourism, but i cant wait till its over and life returns to normal again.

One thing i found sad about the whole event though, was the differences in pay that these people are given. Some of our players are on multi million dollar contracts, and other less fortunate players had to fund raise to get to Australia, and then use their Sponsorship vouchers from KFC and McDonalds to eat for the entire time! what kind of diet is that for a "professional" athlete - a greasy drumstick and a quarter pounder with cheese. :confused:

Big cheers for the green and golds anyway ! Just hurry up and beat england so we can get this over with 'eh ! ;)

So thats like what... $6 American?