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The All Blacks perform the Kapa O Pango haka - Source: Photosport -
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I'm a little bit peeved off to hear all the negativity of how the Rugby World Cup is going to be detrimental to the country.
Talkback radio and certain sections of the media are doing the event no favours with this pessimistic attitude.
I think these New Zealanders are people who see the world a little bit differently from me. In other words, they never see the glass half full.
We've got to be positive about the World Cup. We bought into it many years ago -before the Christchurch Earthquake struck, before the Pike River disaster and before the global recession.
There is no turning back. We can't say, 100 days before the tournament starts, it's going to be too much for us.
Let's just get off our backsides and support the kaupapa that is within our grasp.
Let's support this journey that we're on. Everyone needs to get behind it and make it a World Cup for the people who come to our country never forget.
Let's show them the friendliness of our country. Let's bring them into our homes, look after them wherever they go and make sure nothing is too hard.
After all, that is one of the great things about New Zealand. We are indeed capable of doing what no other World Cup has done before and that is - be a World Cup for the people.
Because when you are in bigger countries like England, France or South Africa, with huge populations and huge cities, you don't get to mix and mingle with the opposition supporters or players very often, if at all.
However in Aotearoa, with towns so much smaller, you'll find the touring teams and their fans will be hanging out with the locals a lot more.
Which is great and I also think it would be beneficial for the All Blacks if they also got back to basics.
Back in 1987, after our last pool match against Argentina in Wellington, Brian Lochore billeted all of the All Blacks out to the locals' houses in Wairarapa Bush.
It was a fantastic experience and an excellent way of chilling out with the public of New Zealand. It broke the monotony of being in hotels and I think the current group would really enjoy the opportunity of doing something similar.
For us, all those years ago, it showed us what the All Blacks meant to the common whanau and it also bought us closer as a team.
Sure it raised expectations but as a group that is what we needed.
The pressure has only increased for the 2011 All Blacks - 24 years of heartbreak will do that sort of thing.
But if they come together, with the whole nation behind them, the World Cup will be seen as a success, win or lose.
What do you think? Have your say on the messageboard below.
Read opinion pieces 100 days out from the Rugby World
Cup, written by our RWC experts.
Martin Devlin: RWC - Did you know?
Jeff Wilson: 100 days until the party
Keith Quinn: Back-history of RWC - part one
Andrew Saville: Lessons learnt from 2007
Add a Comment:
Post new commentiankiwinz said on 2011-06-08 @ 05:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
Living in the UK but looking forward to the RWC. Not sure if the All Blacks will win but what an opportunity to promote NZ and banish some of the dark memories of the ChCh earthquake and Pike River mining disaster.
african said on 2011-06-03 @ 12:57 NZDT: Report abusive post
Actually GoldEarth, I'm an Early Childhood Teacher. I break my back every day trying to make sure the youth of tomorrow are intelligent and capable enough to clean up the idiotic and greedy decisions of the baby boomers. The World Cup is another example of this. And Finlaay, if you actually look at the numbers, the financial benefits of the World Cup are short term. A couple of months afterwards and you won't have even noticed it's happened.
london leo said on 2011-06-02 @ 12:58 NZDT: Report abusive post
I can't believe that some people are like winging pomms. I'm a kiwi in London working, and I will be wearing my All Black Jersey with pride. Didn't we loose some of world cup a few years ago? All because some stadiums wanted to keep there own advertising? Can't remember 100% if anyone can enlighten me? but everyone moaned about loosing the games also! (BRING BACK BUCK!)
Chris I said on 2011-06-01 @ 17:05 NZDT: Report abusive post
Martin - for a trainspotter of your elk it's surprising your facts on the tries scored in finals is wrong. According to you only 8 in total and 5 since 1991. Therefore only 3 in the 87 final if my maths is correct. 3 for the All Blacks maybe but France did manage a late consolation try to Berbizier.
Cann River Bob said on 2011-06-01 @ 15:47 NZDT: Report abusive post
I agree with your comments Andrew. This year we will almost certainly have the Number 13 playing who should clearly have played in 2007 - Conrad Smith - and with him comes that defensive package and work ethic that invariably identifies WC winning sides. Unless the selectors go nuts again my money is firmly on the AB's.