Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand v Tonga

The inaugural world cup game at Auckland. I missed the opening ceremony, but here is the first game of a looooong but exciting few weeks! New Zealand's second shot at hosting it, their first since 1987, when they also won it. But being the world's top team... they haven't won it since. Is it the coaching? Is it the challenge of kock-out rugby? Or is it simply bad karma and curse? They need to win this one... otherwise... well... God knows!

And Tonga... well, nothing too challenging for the Kiwis. They are wide, though. Big people... just take a look at their coach. I wouldn't want to come across any of them in any dark alley... especially the ones with funny hair.

However, being favourites, the All Blacks should have no problem in taking this game. And how do they do that thing with their tongues in the Haka? bleh..

A rather physical game by both sides, with New Zealand going over the try line a few times. Tonga struggled in defence sometimes, apart from a couple of occasions when the Kiwis didn't quite manage to ground the ball or reach the line without stopping short or being tackled into touch.

And how do these Kiwis do it? They pass perfectly without looking. They offload perfectly with one hand. Do they need to look? No. They know there will always be someone there to catch the ball. And there is always at least 3 players on the outside. But how? Could well be due to school. They learn rugby at the age of 3. They learn the Haka at such an age. It's as if its bred into them. It's fanatical. I've got to give it to them, though... it's as if rugby is in the national curriculum. But then again... it's the only sport they're actually good at. At least the USA, Australia, UK and others have football and cricket and motor racing and athletics and cheese rolling. But in New Zealand? Rugbyrugbyrugbyrugby.

And Tonga as an international team. It's mostly geographical. I mean, the size of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia can accommodate lots and lots of clubs. Europe is compact enough for the 6 nations, Magners league (or whatever it's now called), Heineken Cup, etc. So the clubs and international teams get regular play. Whereas, the Pacific Islanders... have you seen the vast amount of void between them? Years ago, the better players just went to New Zealand or whatever to play internationally until the rules tightened. So Western Samoa, Tonga and all the others were crap. But now, with players in European teams and the progress into the sport, they're improving. And since they're 'under played', they can surprise... not many people know how they play and how to encounter them. Which makes it all interesting!

Anyway... back to the game. Second half. Well... mostly Tonga, really. I'm not sure if they were hyped up in the changing rooms or New Zealand decided to take to the defence... but it was all Tonga, making the shine off New Zealand fade a little. However, a single Tongan try in this half was not enough to overcome the 41 points made by the All Blacks.

FINAL SCORE

41-10