The All Blacks were bundled out of what has turned out to be a World Cup tournament fraught with controversy. Questionable refereeing decisions, poor organization, a biased UK-based organizing committee which intentionally ensured the All Blacks would get little serious chance to test their combinations, and in addition, a series of disrespectful responses to the cultural sensitivities of our entire nation.
After playing a half-hearted and largely irrelevant game against an even less hearted South Africa, they met Namibia who, with nothing to lose, put up an entertaining first-half performance. But they were never going to really test the All Blacks.
Then came the ultimate confrontation. The All Blacks face to face with the climate emergency. Anthropogenic climate change (which was already responsible for wildfires in California, according to one US lawmaker) came out in full force and surprised everybody right in the middle of typhoon season, by delivering – a massive typhoon.
Matches had to be rescheduled. Some were cancelled and among the cancellations: the All Blacks’ critically important final skipper’s run against Italy. An opportunity to rehearse and test combinations one last time before the knock out stages – gone.
And so it was, that with a complete lack of preparation, the team was forced onto the pitch to play a much-hyped Irish side. To be fair, Ireland was never going to be a formidable opponent. By now, the All Blacks with two hakas behind them and one cancellation were ready to do their thing. Roused into action by the culturally insensitive Irish fans who drowned out the haka, the All Blacks gave them a dealing to and the semis awaited.
Having had insufficient serious match time in the tournament, how can any team be expected to peak during a world cup tournament? How could they possibly be expected to have their attitudes properly and finely tuned? How could the coaches motivate their side?
The English have a long history of disrespect and for them, it was one haka too many. While their fans were unable to match the singing of the Irish, the team had its own plan. The dirty, unsporting rotters, lined up in a disorganized “V” formation for the haka. In the chaos of the moment (because forming a “V” on a rugby field is no mean feat), 6 players stepped past the half way line and the match officials, ever vigilant, tried to wave them back – but to no avail. Before the start whistle had even blown, the ref was reaching for his cards.
The English played an exceptional game and were the better team on the day – no question about that. The All Blacks were unceremoniously dumped out of the World Cup – no question about that either.
The players and coaches gave it their best shot. They weren’t able to stop a team that dominated and controlled the haka and the match, and make no mistake about it – the English will have wept into their cornflakes about the fine imposed on them for crossing the line.
But still, the rugby authorities have chosen to do nothing about that climate change emergency.