Go All Blacks!
So admittedly, my interest in watching sports was left alongside my taste for Zima and tolerance for cold bleachers and smelly gyms back in high school. However I have watched rugby several times since arriving here and am amazed at lack of pads, penalties, time between plays and absolute brutality that these players display on the field.
I knew that the All Blacks were playing Ireland yesterday but that's only because my neighbor had mentioned that he and his family were going with a large group. I thought to myself, "I hope I can find a good parking spot for Sex and the City tonight." That was my level of interest before I entered an Irish pub on Courtenay Street last night. My friends and I arrived before the game actually started and within 10 minutes it was pretty obvious we were the only people who weren't there to watch the game. The pub was small but still was equipped with two large flat screen televisions, one on each end of the bar. The bar filled up with people in green, we ordered some terribly good fried food and Kilkenny and then the opening ceremonies of the game began.
The Irish team sang their own anthem (I assume that is what it was) then a young singer performed one of New Zealand's national anthems 'God Defend New Zealand'. We all commented on the rain and were amazed that it had started raining so hard since we had entered the bar. And then I saw my first live haka performed by the All Blacks team. I was moved to tears. It filled me with emotion and pride to see 'my' team performing with such passion before playing this sport.
A haka is a dance and I'm not talking about the Super Bowl Shuffle here. This is a Maori traditional dance that has been performed by New Zealand rugby teams since as early as 1884. The All Blacks haka "Ka Mate", is a war cry and I know that if I were on the other side of the field, I'd be wetting my pants before the game even started. If you are interested in seeing the All Blacks perform, here's a great link. NZ Maori - Haka
I knew that the All Blacks were playing Ireland yesterday but that's only because my neighbor had mentioned that he and his family were going with a large group. I thought to myself, "I hope I can find a good parking spot for Sex and the City tonight." That was my level of interest before I entered an Irish pub on Courtenay Street last night. My friends and I arrived before the game actually started and within 10 minutes it was pretty obvious we were the only people who weren't there to watch the game. The pub was small but still was equipped with two large flat screen televisions, one on each end of the bar. The bar filled up with people in green, we ordered some terribly good fried food and Kilkenny and then the opening ceremonies of the game began.
The Irish team sang their own anthem (I assume that is what it was) then a young singer performed one of New Zealand's national anthems 'God Defend New Zealand'. We all commented on the rain and were amazed that it had started raining so hard since we had entered the bar. And then I saw my first live haka performed by the All Blacks team. I was moved to tears. It filled me with emotion and pride to see 'my' team performing with such passion before playing this sport.
A haka is a dance and I'm not talking about the Super Bowl Shuffle here. This is a Maori traditional dance that has been performed by New Zealand rugby teams since as early as 1884. The All Blacks haka "Ka Mate", is a war cry and I know that if I were on the other side of the field, I'd be wetting my pants before the game even started. If you are interested in seeing the All Blacks perform, here's a great link. NZ Maori - Haka
I have to agree - pretty amazing stuff. Btw, the All Blacks beat Ireland, 21-11.
That Maori dance is pretty neat to watch---it is especially great watching my Dad do it! ha ha Think about the most conservative person you know then picture them doing the Maori dance. It is really funny!
My brother in-law has his high school football team do it before their games to get them fired up.