New Zealand’s senior ambassadors wear black

New Zealand is seeking to win its fourth World Cup title in France.Image: Cornerstone

For the New Zealand national team, the Rugby World Cup is a test in many ways. The country’s model team, which came under fire at home a few weeks ago, has done everything right in France so far and will be playing for a place in the final on Friday.

New Zealand has a population of just over five million, and most of them write small stories in sports. It has not won half as many medals at the Olympics as slightly larger Switzerland. The country is often in the shadow of Australia, its large neighbor 4,500 kilometers away on the other side of the Tasman Sea.

But New Zealand is a rugby giant. The black jersey with silver fern of the ‘All Blacks’ is as important to the sport as the yellow and green colors are to Brazilian footballers. Both teams represent an exceptional level of play, but also a fundamental attitude – Brazil representing ‘Jogo Bonito’, the beautiful game, and New Zealand representing an irrepressible will to win.

The All Blacks have never had a negative record against any nation, they have won more than 75 percent of their matches, and since the introduction of the world rankings in 2003, New Zealand have been on top a good 80 percent of the time. Many of rugby’s most famous players are New Zealanders, most famously Jonah Lomu, a winger who died in 2015 at the age of 40, a former All Black player.

New Zealand rugby star Jonah Lomu had Ronaldo’s hairstyle before 2002.Photo: imago sports photo service

The shirt is heavy

The fact that despite this World Championship dominance, it was only in 2011, at the seventh attempt, that the second of three World Championship titles was won, perhaps has something to do with the team’s exceptional status. At home, the All Blacks’ performances are viewed critically throughout the year, and the weaker phases quickly spark key debates. Current players are not only measured by their results, but also by their predecessors.

Current captain Sam Keane has had to listen to a lot over the past three years, from pundits, former players and fans. The standard of the All Blacks captain is high. Richie McCaw, captain between 2001 and 2015, led New Zealand to the World Cup in 2011 with a broken foot. Even within the team, hardly anyone knew about his injury.

black book

Newcomers quickly realize that something extraordinary is needed when playing for the All Blacks. Former international Richard Kahui told the BBC that the veteran players greet the new arrivals individually and perform the haka, a traditional Maori dance, to welcome them. You are then accepted and treated like everyone else on the team.

Each player must record their personal story in the national team in a little black book that they receive on their first day with the All Blacks. The opening pages detail the team’s nearly 140-year history and explain how a love of the jersey has united New Zealand’s diverse cultures. This is followed by blank pages to record your own achievements.

The All Blacks take their off-field role seriously as ambassadors for New Zealand. From their World Cup training camp in Lyon, they have been involved in social life in the region since the beginning of September. Current and former players attended a football match, opened a bench donated by the New Zealand Football Association for Lyon, and played rugby at a school with young people there. Before the last match of the preliminary round, the stars trained with 200 children and in front of 5,000 spectators.

Ireland as a turning point

All their off-field efforts would not have been able to save the All Blacks from the thunderstorm at home if they had not won their quarter-final against Ireland last weekend. Against the world number one, New Zealand did not shine as they did in their best times. But she showed the will to win and the willingness to face all difficulties.

Sam Keane was a fine example against the Irish, supported by 60,000 fans at the Stade de France, and made a decisive contribution to the mini-coup with 21 tackles. After somewhat dark entries, his black book may contain the most beautiful chapters this month. She awaits the obligatory assignment against Argentina on Friday and perhaps the final summit meeting with the other three-time world champions South Africa within a week on Saturday. (NI/DAP)