Tonight the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team played against Manu Samoa, and won by 50 points to 6. For those of you who don't know the game of rugby, it is one of the most physical games played, and is played in shorts, without much protective gear. It can be compared to American gridiron football in many ways, except that there are no forward passes allowed (only lateral passes) and there are other differences in play also. However, as far as being as physical a game is concerned, believe me, it is just as demanding a game.
While watching the game, I noticed that the spectator stands didn't really start to fill up until two thirds through the pre-test match opener game, which to be frank, I find difficult to understand for a number of reasons.
"Ahh, but it was just a pre-game match after all. That's not unusual" I hear you think. Well, in this particular case it was a lot more than that. The pre-match game was yet another international game, with New Zealand playing against England. So, first of all, shouldn't that have generated more interest?
And, I might add, that the particular amature New Zealand team playing against the English team had not lost one game in (get this) the past TEN YEARS. Yes, you read that right. Not one loss in ten years (until tonight, when they lost to a professional British team by a very slim margine). So I think they should have been better supported by the viewing audience, don't you? But no, they weren't. And why? To be frank I'm ashamed to tell you why.
The real reason, as far as I can determine, is the game was played by the New Zealand women's rugby team, the Black Ferns. No other team, to my knowledge, has ever gone 10 years without losing at least one match, but the Black Ferns did. So why weren't they supported as well as the All Blacks? I can only be left with the conclusion that it was because they were women, not men.
All Kiwis love good sport people. Most Kiwis also love and support the professional All Blacks. But the Black Ferns, who train just as hard, who play just as hard, with the exact same rules the All Blacks play to, in the same type of gear (or lack of it), don't get the support. Plus, the Black Ferns also have full time jobs outside the home, and some are raising families.
So, all my praise goes to this wonderful team and their efforts on behalf of women everywhere, and in their support of the game of rugby. They have played and won against international teams, some professional, and as stated already, until tonight have the longest running record of wins this rugby fan has seen. This wonderful team has done New Zealand and women's rugby proud, and my hat is off to you all for a splendid job. Come on Kiwis. It's time you started getting rid of the sexism in New Zealand sport and started supporting those who show they deserve that support. And these women certainly do.
Well done team. And know that some of us will support you and your efforts no matter what. Oh, by the way, the final score was 22-17.
Just my musings...
Mac
