ABs vs France

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, October 23rd, 2011 - 78 comments
Categories: sport - Tags: ,

Now for the final – ABs vs France 9:00 pm at Eden Park – may the best team win. Even we non-rugby fans will have something to celebrate, in just a few hours it will all be over!
[whew … that was close … imagine the national wailing and gnashing of teeth if the French had had a successful penalty kick in that last attack. Well done the ABs. Eddie]

78 comments on “ABs vs France ”

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    • Tigger 1.1
      23 October 2011 at 2:32 pm

      My money is on Key thinking he had something to do with an AB win.

      Oh, and bonne chance to France!

    • Puddleglum 1.2
      23 October 2011 at 2:33 pm

      Thanks for the link Maui.

      What a sadly depthless PM we have – transparently self-serving, even over something that should unite the nation.

      Very disappointing that he puts himself first so much. 

    • Chris 1.3
      23 October 2011 at 3:30 pm

      Great article – only because it shows that in Australia Labour are paying $7.40 to win the next election (form the government not get the most votes – I checked).

      What ridiculous odds, definitely a solid investment.

    • Deadly_NZ 1.4
      24 October 2011 at 12:37 pm

      But look carefully at the pic there’s Key all gushy and smile ‘n’ wavey. And the look on Ritchies face says it all. He’s looking into space wondering if the annoying drone in his ear is ever going to stop.

  2. Carol 2
    23 October 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Seems to me a foregone conclusion. The ABs will win. The best games of the tournament, the exciting unpredictable ones, are already a fairly distant memory. So, Go France, make it your best performance of the RWC 2011!

  3. Lanthanide 3
    23 October 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Go France!

  4. possum 4
    23 October 2011 at 2:48 pm

    I find myself int the silent majority,in NZ i can’t stand rugby. Based on the world tv audience on last final
    most of the world dont seem to be overly enamoured either ..6.9 billion people
    tv udience of 100 mil what’s that .015%?
    However I as a tax payer do not mind subsidising this strange minority sport if as it seems , a huge number of people in NZ enjoy it. Good on them. looking forward to the same in depth coverage of the up coming election the result of which will have so much more impact on Kiwis 🙂

    • Chris 4.1
      23 October 2011 at 3:24 pm

      I love rugby but not sure where you got 100 million watching the last final from. From what I’ve read it was only about 33 million.

      Also while I will never argue about rugby being a minority sport, using viewer figures against the world population is not a good measure. For example the 2006 football world cup final had 350 million viewers (FIFA originally said 1.1 billion did but then had to downgrade that when questioned) so only 5.8% of the world must like football then – sounds like a tiny minority sport (using a pop of 6bill).

    • Vicky32 4.2
      23 October 2011 at 8:33 pm

      I find myself int the silent majority,in NZ i can’t stand rugby. Based on the world tv audience on last final

      You’re not alone, I feel the same… I am afraid though of the assertion that if the ABs win so will NACT. I pride myself on never having watched rugby so I don’t know if they have a good chance, but NACT? Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!

  6. Lindsey 6
    23 October 2011 at 3:18 pm

    I am certainly over it. Under seige in my own suburb, can’t get out as the buses don’t stop here during game times and with the helicopters overhead it is like living in a war zone.

  7. Craig 7
    23 October 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I hate to think the unthinkable, but what happens if France trounces the ABs again and there’s an associated electoral effect against the incumbent government? Or will it be directed against ACT?

  8. Zaphod Beeblebrox 8
    23 October 2011 at 4:24 pm

    Who says we have a youth drinking problem. Its not like the Auckland Council and government are going out of their way to sponsor mass alcohol consumption in public spaces (yeah right!).

  9. gobsmacked 9
    23 October 2011 at 5:19 pm

    Just heard Helen Clark on Newstalk ZB, talking in very positive terms about hosting (and hopefully winning!). Good on her.

    The electoral effect of the rugby is wildly over-blown, with “evidence” plucked from between butt cheeks. There was no World Cup for two and three quarter years of National government, and yet Key/National had very high poll ratings throughout that time. There are many factors behind Key’s popularity (or Labour/Goff’s failure) but the rugby is way down the list.

    Enjoy the game for what it is (or ignore it, whatever takes your fancy). But if you think ABs win = Key re-elected, you’re wrong.

    • Puddleglum 9.1
      23 October 2011 at 6:55 pm

      “The electoral effect of the rugby is wildly over-blown, with “evidence” plucked from between butt cheeks”

      Well, an earlier NZ Herald piece quoting Murray McCully saying the same thing agreed that there was no effect.

      Sadly, their evidence in support simply involved looking at previous World Cups and showing that there was no apparent impact – a bit ‘plucked from between butt cheeks’, as you put it.

      In more serious attempts to study the link there is some interesting work on the effect of irrelevant events (e.g., sporting results) on gubernatorial elections and presidential approval ratings in the US.

      The effect on gubernatorial elections in this study in PNAS was ‘only’ 1.6% when the win for the local college basketball team was within 10 days of the election (they didn’t look at longer intervals or more major events). An upset win had a greater effect.

      1.6% is probably not a great effect in first past the post elections but is more significant in proportional elections.

  11. randal 11
    23 October 2011 at 5:31 pm

    a man in kentucky sure is lucky.
    to live down in bowling green.
    appropos of nothing I like Brad thorn.
    and like it or not a partisan.
    and if necessary a patriot.

  12. Afewknowthetruth 12
    23 October 2011 at 5:48 pm

    You’ve got to give credit where credit is due: corporations have done a brilliant job of taking over the minds of a large sector of the NZ populace and making money out of them.

    ‘ in just a few hours it will all be over!’

    If only that were true Anthony.

    If the ABs win ‘we’ will all hear about it over and over and over again for at least the next two months. And it should only take a few hours to get DVDS into the shops so that people will be able to spend $19.95 or $29.95 for a bit of plastic worth a few cents so they can ‘relive the moment’.

    On the other hand, if France wins ‘we’ will be subjected to a talkfest about ‘what went wrong’, what might have been, if only this or if only that.

    As far as the future of NZ is concerned, the best thing that could happen would be for France to absolutely thrash NZ.

    • millsy 12.1
      23 October 2011 at 7:19 pm

      “On the other hand, if France wins ‘we’ will be subjected to a talkfest about ‘what went wrong’, what might have been, if only this or if only that.”

      The general conclusions will be drawn as causes of a possible AB’s loss:

      The ‘feminisation’ of our schools
      The PPTA
      The NCEA
      The welfare state
      The fact that they take care of themselves appearance wise
      The fact they have facial hair
      The fact they get paid
      Not enough white canterbury/taranaki/otago/southland farmers
      Too many ‘islanders’
      They werent given enough hidings as children

  13. tc 13
    23 October 2011 at 6:48 pm

    Either way the NZRU will continue the old boy tradition and fail to embrace true professionalism where your best players are chosen regardless of where they play and we get a decent local competition covering all of NZ in some form.

    Its disappointing that with all the money spent we still have a suburban stadium and nothing else to show for it aside from holes in queens wharf when the clouds taken down.

  14. WOOF 14
    23 October 2011 at 6:48 pm

    I hope that tonight the All Blacks will successfully fetch the ball and drop it down in a few trys. The French had better not try to attack our top dog! He must lead the pack to victory. They deny it, but beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing! If they’re going to act like a pack of mongrels then they can go home. The All Blacks won’t lie down and submit, they will be howling for their blood! Our cup has been impounded in other countries for far too long! It’s time to get in behind our team and send them home with their tails between their legs!

    Woooooooo! 🙂

  15. Carol 15
    23 October 2011 at 7:18 pm

    What time does the game start? 8.30 or 9pm? I always aim to miss the filler stuff before, at half time, and after a match.

    Sorry, I see it’s at the top of this thread – 9pm…too late.

  16. randal 16
    23 October 2011 at 7:26 pm

    have you heard the idiot on radio sport. every five minutes he says, and I quote. “GOD bles the All Blacks”.
    what an idiot.
    the radio sport announcer I mean.
    God is ok.

    • ianmac 16.1
      23 October 2011 at 7:34 pm

      Endless stream (scream?) of Rugby talk filling the TV so called news tonight and so I switched to Maori TV. What a delight. Gala Concert with Kiri Tekaniwa. (Sorry about spelling.) and friends and orchestra and choir. Magnificent and a breath of fresh earing!

      • happynz 16.1.1
        23 October 2011 at 8:02 pm

        Yeah. We will be watching the match. But the pre-game buildup is way way OTT. Here in my place we are have a chuckle watching Bear Grylls eat bugs and fresh goat testicles.

        Who wants to bet that Dear Leader will try to get into the middle to raise the cup (if the All Blacks win, of course)?

      • ianmac 16.1.2
        23 October 2011 at 8:14 pm

        Sorry Kiri. Kiri Te Kanawa. (sp)

  17. Anne 17
    23 October 2011 at 8:15 pm

    It’s already getting a bit crazy in my neck of the woods and the game hasn’t started. A normally sedate part of Auckland is erupting into parties with music blaring and what sounds like hysterical teenagers roaming the streets. Pity the police and ambulance officers – not to mention the hospitals- who will be picking up the pieces as the night progresses.

    • Anne 17.1
      23 October 2011 at 8:31 pm

      Add to that list the Fire Service.

    • Afewknowthetruth 17.2
      23 October 2011 at 9:21 pm

      Drunken brawls, smashed lettter boxes, alcohol pouring down sewer lines, vomit on carpets ……. all are good for GDP growth because GDP measures the consequences of mayhem as positive!

  18. millsy 18
    23 October 2011 at 9:52 pm

    NZ 5, France 0 @ halftime…

    Very tight game — going to be very close…

  19. millsy 19
    23 October 2011 at 10:46 pm

    NZ 8, France, 7 — World Champions, the All Blacks — a good old school score..

  20. joe90 20
    23 October 2011 at 10:48 pm

    Too close for comfort but congrats to the ABs, a win’s a win.

  21. Puddleglum 21
    23 October 2011 at 10:53 pm

    Congratulations to the All Blacks.

    Congratulations to France, too, for proving their detractors wrong.

    In fact, if I was objective, I’d have to say that, on the night, the best team did not win. The All Blacks were, however, the best team during the tournament, so it is deserved. 

  22. Salsy 22
    23 October 2011 at 10:56 pm

    Now, presumably Labour will be able to convert the rampant patriotism into people actually caring about the future of their nation..

  23. tc 23
    23 October 2011 at 11:12 pm

    A good game nothing cynical just a hard old fashioned styled contest, France could’ve won but the ABs should’ve been out of sight with better kicking they just did enough. let’s get on with the much more important business of getting rid of Shylock and his dodgy dealing room now.

    • millsy 23.1
      23 October 2011 at 11:19 pm

      A good old school game — couldnt help but notice John Key breaking his neck to shake hands with McCaw during the presentation.

      The singing of ‘Now Is The Hour’ was a nice touch at the end. And the I’m absolutely shagged comment is going to go down in history.

      Well, on with the contest that counts in November. And no more rugby till Feb 🙂

      • Anne 23.1.1
        24 October 2011 at 12:02 am

        For nearly sixty years Ed Hillary’s “we knocked the bastard off” reigned supreme. Now we’ve got a new one “I’m absolutely shagged”. 🙂

    • Carol 23.2
      24 October 2011 at 7:28 am

      Agree with your comments on the game and geting rid of the nAts. But I’m not keen on the use of the name “Shylock” – you may not be aware but the Shakespearian use has anti-Semetic overtones for some people.

      I switched off after full time and will be avoiding the NZ MSM for a day or so. Who said “shagged’?

      It was a gripping and unpredictable game – that’s the kind I like best.

      • Vicky32 23.2.1
        24 October 2011 at 3:15 pm

        But I’m not keen on the use of the name “Shylock” – you may not be aware but the Shakespearian use has anti-Semetic (sic, you mean anti-Semitic) overtones for some people.

        For some people Carol, but my guess is, not for most! I remember back when I was a child, and my only knowledge of Jews/Judaism was through my Mum’s friend Mrs Botica (they had had a love/hate relationship since they were 3 years old as their fathers were colleagues) – and I first came across Shylock; I thought that the character’s actually very nuanced!

  24. Ed 24
    23 October 2011 at 11:20 pm

    Plan for the worst, hope for the best – the team showed that New Zealanders can win though against tough opposition. May we return to that commitment and preparedness to do the hard work in other aspects of our lives.

  25. Tigger 25
    23 October 2011 at 11:23 pm

    My god, some guest commentator? on Newstalk just tried to link the win with Key’s leadership. Expect lots more of this in the next six weeks…

  26. Rodel 26
    23 October 2011 at 11:23 pm

    Best apart of the world cup final?
    John Key desperately and ungraciously making attempts to get a photo of himself shaking hands with Ritchie McCaw but being ignored and being treated like the irrelevancy that he is
    Loved it..

  27. Anne 27
    23 October 2011 at 11:25 pm

    Typical Shylock behaviour. Key kept himself out of sight until after the end of the game. Once they won he was in boots n’all. No recognition (that I know of) for Helen Clark who was the prime-minister responsible for making it happen. She was there too.

    • Eddie 27.1
      23 October 2011 at 11:49 pm

      wait, Key walked out holding the Cup did he?

      • Eddie 27.1.1
        24 October 2011 at 12:21 am

        lolz. I just found video of it. Little Key, desperately trying to get involved. He sticks out his hand across the front of the IRB boss to shake Ritchie’s hand after he gets the Cup, but the IRB intercepts Ritchie’s hand to shake it first. Quite a pointed move by the IRB boss. Bloody fair enough too. What’s any of this got to do with little Johnie?

        • seeker 27.1.1.1
          24 October 2011 at 1:45 am

          Just got off the phone. Was talking to my English friend who had been over here for four weeks following the rugby., now returned to England and was watdhing the final over there.
          She was aghast at Key’s lack of etiquette as you have just described Eddie. I hadn’t seen it – was busy wailing in anguish in the kitchen where I had fled at the sound of …. “and the honourable John Key…”.’cos I can hardly bear the sight of him anymore.
          My friend said that after the trophy had been presented to Ritchie Mac, Key leaned across the IRB chap to shake his hand but the IRB boss, quite correctly, put him in his place by moving in front of Key’s hand and shaking Richie’s hand himself, as it should be. She said Key was just trying to promote himself and added “what a dreadful little man!.”
          This from an English viewer and rugby fan and even she can sum Key up from 12,000kms. What’s wrong with the ‘70% Kwis’ that think he’s the bees knees? I think Key has made a bit of an ass of himself ( and us) in front of the world, and at a world cup precentation! No class. Good job the All Blacks did us proud.

  28. Campbell Larsen 28
    23 October 2011 at 11:30 pm

    Stoked that NZ is a happy coliseum tonight, ambivalent about the game, but sometimes it’s just whatever puts a smile on the dial : )

  29. mickysavage 29
    23 October 2011 at 11:51 pm

    Congrats All Blacks.  And the political implications?  Well the team that was expected to trash the opposition only just got over the line.

    And the dominant emotion will be relief, not smug superiority.

    Watch out for the underdogs. 

    • Mac1 29.1
      24 October 2011 at 12:33 am

      Well said, Micky. Now the game starts, here in Aotearoa, in earnest.

      As for the French. Bien joue.

      Ils sont venus. Ils ont vu. Ils sont battus, mais pas vaincus.

      They came, they saw, and were beaten, but not conquered.

    • tc 29.2
      24 October 2011 at 8:53 am

      Agree Mickey, neither comprehensive or easy and most kiwis will be glad to get on with more important matters after 4 years of post mortems, anlaysis and fluff at the expense of far more weighty matters.

  30. chris73 30
    24 October 2011 at 12:26 am

    You lefties just can’t resist making anything political. I’m guessing John Key was there because hes the leader of this country. No doubt you’ll be whining that Goofy should have got some time as well.

    • Zetetic 30.1
      24 October 2011 at 12:56 am

      this is a political blog genius. It’s purpose is to be a forum to discuss the political aspects of events.

      I don’t recall Lange trying to butt in when Kirk was presented with the cup.

      • Tigger 30.1.1
        24 October 2011 at 7:24 am

        Oh Chris, I bet we lose track of how many times will Key try to link himself to the win in the next six weeks.

    • tc 30.2
      24 October 2011 at 8:48 am

      goofy getting some time? I thought McCully has had enough time to last everyone’s lifetime or do you mean other half wits like Coleman etc theres plenty of choice in that govt.

    • millsy 30.3
      24 October 2011 at 9:33 am

      No doubt you guys on the right would have had something to say if Helen Clark was still PM and she was at the presentation.

      • chris73 30.3.1
        24 October 2011 at 10:54 am

        As long as she didn’t break any laws getting to the game I’d be ok with it 🙂

        • seeker 30.3.1.1
          24 October 2011 at 10:11 pm

          She didn’t break any laws the police did and am disregarding your facetious little face. By the way Helen got you your precious RWC – be grateful petty man.

  31. Dave 31
    24 October 2011 at 3:51 am

    Yawwwwnnnn…..who really cares?

    The All blacks won the ‘world’ cup.

    But who in the ‘world’ knew it was on, let alone care about the result?

    The rugby world cup is a minor event by anyone’s standard,
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10761073

    More people around the world watched the Liverpool ManU game last weekend than last nights final.

    • Carol 31.1
      24 October 2011 at 9:37 am

      It was the main item on Aljazeera (Eng) Newshour sports section today, and a headline for the newshour generally. AJ have been following it quite closely reporting on all rounds and all the knockout games.

      • Davd 31.1.1
        25 October 2011 at 3:55 am

        It was the main item on Aljazeera (Eng) Newshour sports section today, and a headline for the newshour generally. AJ have been following it quite closely reporting on all rounds and all the knockout games.

        So? Football results from all around the world also get reported on, NBA basketball, Grand Slam tennis, the golf majors, all get attention.

        Just because the RWC got a few write ups says nothing about how it compares with other sports events this year.

        33 million (perhaps slightly more) watched the final on Sunday.

        “The Premier League has a global “reach” into 613 million homes, and estimates a typical live audience for a single match of around 79.5 million.”
        http://tinyurl.com/3hw5dav

        There are 380 english premier league games alone each season.

        Add in a whole lot of other sporting events which eclipse the rugby world cup, I doubt the RWC final on Sunday night will make the top 400 sporting most watched sporting events of 2011.

        The Rugby World Cup is a very minor sporting event.

  34. Caernarfon 34
    26 October 2011 at 10:06 am

    I’m amused by Keith Quinn hyper-ventilating about the alleged eye-gouge of Rougerie on McCaw.

    An online closeup image shows inflamed red tissue around McCaw’s eye at the time of the haka.

    The allegation seems designed to distract from reports of Weepu’s haymaker on the French fly-half after Parra’s first injury break, leaving him – again – concussed and staggering towards the sideline.

    It is unsurprising that Weepu was later treated roughly in a legal tackle, leading to withdrawal through injury.

    ‘Les Bleus’ are right to feel aggrieved about NZ’s small-town lynch-mob mentality.

    The spectacle is over. The boys in black won.

    Don’t rub it in.

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