Long-held conventional wisdom, here and abroad, is that New Zealanders are very good at rugby because we take it very seriously.Successive waves of visiting scribes have repeated the lazy – and increasingly meaningless – claim that the game is a “religion” here, often as a prelude to sharing anecdotes of dubious authenticity about the rugby nous of little old ladies and, inevitably, taxi drivers. (I’ve had many cricket conversations with taxi drivers; precious few about rugby.)
Kiwis certainly take rugby way too seriously when the All Blacks lose. Embarrassingly, this is regarded as a good thing. Even those, like embattled coach Ian Foster, who cop the backlash insist that the absurd and often ugly overreactions are an indicator of New Zealand rugby’s rude health. It shows we care, so the argument goes; the day when Kiwis react to an All Blacks loss with equanimity is the day we should start worrying because it will be a clear sign that our long love affair with the game is cooling.
Players and coaches continue to claim that the intense weight of expectation and the fallout when they fall short are drivers of success and a key reason the All Blacks boast the best win-loss record in international rugby: they instil a galvanising fear of failure that their opponents don’t have.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 3 - 9, 2022 من New Zealand Listener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 3 - 9, 2022 من New Zealand Listener.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
The rest is history
Rest - both sleep and non-sleep - is essential to help our overstressed bodies and minds repair themselves. But many of us remain in a constant state of 'fight, flight or freeze'.
Right and power
Israel is profiting financially and extending its global technological influence in response to the October 7 massacre, says investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein.
Dolphins be damned
Is SailGP's future in this country really under threat because of an at-risk marine mammal?
Orwellian irony
Our thinking about one of the 20th century's best-known writers is being challenged by the 'smelly little truths' Anna Funder uncovered about George Orwell's marriage.
The alchemist
Talent and a little magic have taken state-house kid Moses Mackay to the heights of Italian opera. He's coming back to sprinkle some of his gold dust around.
Good Lord, he was scandalous
Lord Byron still fascinates 200 years after his death, but more for his bohemian lifestyle than his poetry.
Stars in their eyes
Debut novel a heady mix of grief, astronomy and love.
Dark matter
Ngaio Marsh-style whodunnit set among academia attached to the Mt John Observatory.
Mirren's mirror on Meir
Dame Helen talks about playing Golda Meir, Israel's iron lady, during a pivotal chapter in the controversial politician's long career.
Game, set and match
Love, sex and great tennis take centre court in this highly charged drama.