Why We Really Lost
This letter from Helen McGregor of Ohoka appeared in today's Christchurch Press.
Our All Blacks have unsurprisingly, again failed at the World Cup, in spite of arguably being the top team.
New zealand's psychological profile has changed in recent years. This has more impact on the game than we admit.
We have always been a small and isolated nation but we are now even smaller, narrow, envious and fearful-a curious mixture of arrogance and lost confidence.
We demand our All blacks win when as a country we win less and less across the board. New Zealand is in slippage on many fronts and we fail to make the connection.
We see competitiveness and success actively discouraged in our education system, where winning is virtually a dirty word. As in any organisation, our attitudes and confidence stem from the top. Our rugby cannot be seperated from the rest of our society.
It is not that the All Blacks have failed the nation, but that the nation has failed the All Blacks.
Can't argue with that. That's all I'm saying on the rugby.
Thank God, I'm more of a League fan anyway.
I hope the Kiwis thrash the Kangaroos on Sunday.
Our All Blacks have unsurprisingly, again failed at the World Cup, in spite of arguably being the top team.
New zealand's psychological profile has changed in recent years. This has more impact on the game than we admit.
We have always been a small and isolated nation but we are now even smaller, narrow, envious and fearful-a curious mixture of arrogance and lost confidence.
We demand our All blacks win when as a country we win less and less across the board. New Zealand is in slippage on many fronts and we fail to make the connection.
We see competitiveness and success actively discouraged in our education system, where winning is virtually a dirty word. As in any organisation, our attitudes and confidence stem from the top. Our rugby cannot be seperated from the rest of our society.
It is not that the All Blacks have failed the nation, but that the nation has failed the All Blacks.
Can't argue with that. That's all I'm saying on the rugby.
Thank God, I'm more of a League fan anyway.
I hope the Kiwis thrash the Kangaroos on Sunday.
posted by Trevor Loudon at
10/09/2007 10:01:00 PM
6 Comments:
Trev, I'll help you out here and say what you think but don't have the insensitivity to utter:
"IT WAS A VILE COMMIE PLOT AT THE VANGUARD OF WHICH WERE A BUNCH OF LOUSY FRENCH SURRENDER MONKEYS !"
You know me too well Steve-that Bernard La Porte looks like a Trot if I ever saw one.
But they were beaten by a nation far more socially democratic than NZ. What does that tell you ?
"Monsieur you underestimate our Gallic Socialist Supermen !"
Is that why "female" East German athlete's used to do so well at the Olympics, Fergus?
I'm just being flippant, anyone who attempts to connect the economic and political health of a nation to a single sporting event needs their head examined.
Though I would have thought the wind resistance generated by their stubble would have been a bit of a hamper in some events.
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