Black Sunday

As a sporting occasion I think the Rugby World Cup exceeded every expectation, certainly mine, and I don't think I've ever encountered such an emotional event.

Images of man-hugs were beamed all over the world as All Blacks tasted victory with their home tournament for the first time in 24 years. I celebrated the victory as well with a tear and a bar full of crazy All Blacks supporters. It was definitely a defining moment for New Zealand ; having to host such an amazing tournament and winning it is really something special, especially when there’s so so much at stake.

All Blacks quartet, Coaches and top players with the cup

It had become public knowledge that the last time All Blacks won the world cup was at the inaugural tournament in 1987 hosted by New Zealand and ironically held at the same venue with the same two teams. All Blacks won that game but have since constantly suffered pain in a 48-month cycle for 24 years. Considering what New Zealand has been through lately - in particular the Christchurch earthquake disaster - no-one could begrudge them for glory and no one did. 

When one looks back and wonders whether the whole outcome hadn't been pre-ordained. In retrospect it certainly seems as though it was. The 2011 Rugby World was magical in many ways and the New Zealand are perfect winners.

But how can we forget how good this World Cup has been for Pacific teams. Tonga and Samoa both showing that smaller teams should not be underestimated and with the right resources and finance they have the potential to topple tier one nations. 

Those big nations would have been looking at us thinking, It’s a walk in the park. But we’ve got our confidence up, and we’re going to make sure we give it our all and hopefully make something special happen for our people.
Samoan Captain, Mahonri Schwalger

Tonga beat eventual finalist France in the tournaments biggest upset while Samoa rattled Wales and came close to beating South Africa in one of the most controversial match of the tournament. One tends to wonder if Tonga had won against Japan which they should have and if a welsh did not referee the Samoa-South Africa game it would be a different story altogether. 

No one will ever forget the tens of thousands who flocked to Auckland airport when these teams arrived. No one will forget that more than 67,000 spectators attended the Fiji- Samoa game which was 10,000 more than the Wales-France semi-finals and 2,000 less than the finals. 

While the celebrations is expected to continue for much longer, I take this time to farewell Fiji’s great Nicky Little and All Black stalwart Mils Muliaina who retire from national duties. Thanks are in order for their contribution to the world of rugby.

Comments

Since I could not directly post on your comments for reasons I don't know myself, here are my comments;


 Fiji Rugby
1. http://fijirugby2011.blogspot.com/2011/10/six-players-to-face-fru.html

Your blog sheds light to the most debated upon issue in our country today, the future of the game we so much love and are passionate about. People in Fiji 'eat, drink and breathe rugby' so to speak. The problem with us (yes, all of us, the union, players and the public should all take the blame) is we never learn from our past experiences. We continue to do things that we know would lead us nowhere.  Getting players from different parts of the world just weeks before the tournament and expecting them play like a team is a crazy ambition to begin with. Then there’s the mad public, who no matter what demands a win not realizing the amount of pressure this puts in the team. And how can we alienate the ineffective and very inefficient team management.

I doubt our rugby will improve significantly in the coming years and neither shall we be able to see that caliber and brand of rugby we are known for in the world. While we couldn't stomp our mark at the world's greatest rugby event, we should learn from our closest neighbors, Samoa and Tonga who despite continuous hurdles performed exceptionally well and surpassed many expectations, mine included. I get the constant battering from my closest Samoan and Tongan friends on Fiji's performance, but Fiji was never my top choice team at the World Cup anyway.

World Without Volunteers
2. http://worldwithoutvolunteers.blogspot.com/


Lusia, you blog inspires me and makes me feel so proud of being an active volunteer. And yes you are right when you say volunteers need to be appreciated. The universal understanding that volunteerism is doing things without expecting anything in return is spot on but there are also certain ways volunteers need to be treated or rather looked after. Most organizations take a lot of advantage of its volunteers, I have myself witness this and while I do not complain, I believe it is humane and morally right if these perceptions on volunteers change and they are treated they way they truly deserve.

Volunteers are truly unsung heroes and backbone of a number of regional and international organizations in Fiji and the Pacific and I suppose thanks are in order.

FJ Student Life 
3.  http://fjstudentlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/student-favouritismunfair-teachers.html


This is an important point you putting across Sherita. I remember giving a talk at the school assembly some years back talking about favoritism (which was just part of the whole talk). While I was applauded initially, a lot of teachers later approached me and asked me why I had raised that in my talk, to which I responded I had been a victim.

Whether you agree or not, Fiji’s school system is rather tailor made for favoritism to take place. It’s like providing a bird with a nest to lay eggs. There can be a various reasons for this but one that I would like to highlight is that of personal connections. Given Fiji’s size, it is no hiding the fact you would probably be related in some twisted way or the other to the person you going to share your lunch with at school. Such was the case when it came to some teachers and students.  Somehow magically, the answers from the text books were wrong and what the teacher say no matter how irrational it may seem would be correct to suit certain sectors of the class.

But the true results were the national tests, in which I exceedingly succeeded much to the disappointment of certain people.

Talking rugby flavours

I hear Serevi is back in the country, that is the best news I've heard in weeks.  After a very embarrassing and  dismissal performance at the Rugby World Cup, Fiji rugby definitely needs to come down to earth, off their high horses, eat humble pie and get Serevi back in the fold.

But first, how good was the weekends game. It exceeded all my expectations and left me wanting for more. All Blacks showing why they have been world's number one team of years. I am,  myself a very passionate and die-hard rugby fan and even a greater All blacks fan. Now of course I knew the All Blacks was going to win, never really had any doubts!  Great Game, Great Team, Great crowd and oh boy what a great final  it is going to be.

Too good!    Picture Source: IRB

I wish I could say the same for Fiji, but it is what it is, the worst performance ever by any Fiji team.

I would say we should focus on the shortened version of the sport, but we suck at that as well now. Which brings us to the Serevi part. Known as the 'King of Sevens', Serevi is in the country to help  out with the coral coast sevens.



The chairperson of the organizing committee, Jay Whyte told  The Fiji Times why Serevi was back.

"We believe that Serevi will help promote the  tournament  overseas and within Fiji which will attract more international teams and spectators and help showcase the natural talent that exists here in Fiji...Serevi will also be bringing a team from the USA, Team Serevi, to enter in the tournament"

The event of course comes at the right time and as Whyte puts it, " Most of us must be disappointed with the performance of our team at the World Cup and I think this 7s competition will restore some pride in the hearts of rugby fans".

But Serevi's return is definitely more significant. He is the best rugby player this country has ever produced and regarded by many the best sevens player ever. Only with him have we won the World Cup and that too twice. Only with him have we won the IRB Sevens series and it is only with him that we can see lost glory return. He knows the game in and out and I don't there is anyone that can be the best choice for coach.

Once we get our seven's right, 15'will follow suit. We are all aware of the impact seven's has on the 15's game and I just have to go a week back to prove my point. Cory Jane, superb performance, All Blacks win against Australia, Jane rewarded man of the match. Jane played 7's when Serevi was the coach for Fiji two seasons ago.