Rugby World Cup 2011
November 17, 2005 12:11 PM Subscribe
The Rugby World Cup probably doesn't matter a lot to most, but today's announcement that New Zealand will be hosting the 2011 event is enough to send the local media into ecstasy. Not wanting to be outdone on Olympic-scale scandal, you can bet that neighbours of the biggest Rugby Stadium in New Zealand will not be happy.
Good to see that the Rugby outreach program is working so well. New Zealand suffers from a lack of exposure to rugby.
posted by dangerousdan at 12:36 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by dangerousdan at 12:36 PM on November 17, 2005
I posted the Eden Park neighbours bit because I thought people might get a kick out of the things that concern New Zealanders daily. Apparently one of the key concerns is drunken Rugby fans urinating on front lawns after games. Scandal!
posted by pivotal at 12:37 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by pivotal at 12:37 PM on November 17, 2005
What a fucking monumentally stupid decision. Rejecting Japan has put rugby back a decade. Rugby is, unfortunately, still run by a bunch of myopic blazers who have no interest in the game's global development.
posted by salmacis at 12:42 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by salmacis at 12:42 PM on November 17, 2005
Wish I could make it to NZ.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:46 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by Smedleyman at 12:46 PM on November 17, 2005
salmacis, how does playing the World Cup in Japan, where any local team is likely to be thrashed 100+ to nil, help global development? A one-off event like the World Cup is not going to do that. We need instead to expand local comps (like the Super 12 moving into Perth), and get regular tours to/from those 'global' nations.
posted by pivotal at 12:52 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by pivotal at 12:52 PM on November 17, 2005
Oh my gracious. While this is undeniably good news, we have approximately one metric fuckload of work to do to get stadiums and infrastructure up to snuff. Auckland's traffic situation can only get worse!
posted by John Shaft at 12:53 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by John Shaft at 12:53 PM on November 17, 2005
pivotal: Why do you think Japan would get tharshed 100-0 when they were better than than that at the last world cup? Don't you think hosting the football world cup raised the profile of the game in Asia? Don't you think raising the profile of rugby in that corner of the world would be a good thing?
That's even before we address the point that Japan has better stadia, more hotel rooms and all-round better infrastructure to host such a competition.
Quite frankly, I'm staggered that the IRB has passed up such a golden opportunity.
posted by salmacis at 1:00 PM on November 17, 2005
That's even before we address the point that Japan has better stadia, more hotel rooms and all-round better infrastructure to host such a competition.
Quite frankly, I'm staggered that the IRB has passed up such a golden opportunity.
posted by salmacis at 1:00 PM on November 17, 2005
Normally I wouldn't care, but all the sport comentators on tv were acting like giddy children this morning. They were fidgeting and being overly sincere, big soppy eyes and I swear they they were about to cry.
It was so cute.
posted by holloway at 1:18 PM on November 17, 2005
It was so cute.
posted by holloway at 1:18 PM on November 17, 2005
soccer-playing nancy boys?
hark the universal Rugby mating call. the ever-minority game of choice for lonely poofs and public school boy twats everywhere. rugby players tough. soccer 'nancy-boy'. lonely poofta like rugby. lonely poofta like to be tough.
reality must be such a disappointment to ego-driven rugby fans. the sheer desperation at wanting things to be different is however sometimes just too painfully obvious to ignore.
i offer profound and sincerest sympathy to any small town or village cursed with the indignity of a visiting rugby club. rugby should be by far and way the very best reason to emigrate any country with a union jack in it's flag.
posted by rodney stewart at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2005
hark the universal Rugby mating call. the ever-minority game of choice for lonely poofs and public school boy twats everywhere. rugby players tough. soccer 'nancy-boy'. lonely poofta like rugby. lonely poofta like to be tough.
reality must be such a disappointment to ego-driven rugby fans. the sheer desperation at wanting things to be different is however sometimes just too painfully obvious to ignore.
i offer profound and sincerest sympathy to any small town or village cursed with the indignity of a visiting rugby club. rugby should be by far and way the very best reason to emigrate any country with a union jack in it's flag.
posted by rodney stewart at 1:24 PM on November 17, 2005
Please post a reminder in 2011 in case this slips my mind.
posted by fixedgear at 1:38 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by fixedgear at 1:38 PM on November 17, 2005
rodney stewart, there there, cry it all out.
John Shaft, have you seen the train station upgrade next to Eden Park? It's made a huge difference.
At the moment I live a few blocks away from Eden Park, but who knows where I'll live in 6 years?
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, lives practically across the road from Eden Park. Highly doubtful that she'd still be PM in 5 years, but she might still live there. She must hate it.
posted by The Monkey at 1:38 PM on November 17, 2005
John Shaft, have you seen the train station upgrade next to Eden Park? It's made a huge difference.
At the moment I live a few blocks away from Eden Park, but who knows where I'll live in 6 years?
Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand, lives practically across the road from Eden Park. Highly doubtful that she'd still be PM in 5 years, but she might still live there. She must hate it.
posted by The Monkey at 1:38 PM on November 17, 2005
This thread is excellent, it's like an NZ mini-mefi-meetup.
posted by Catch at 1:46 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by Catch at 1:46 PM on November 17, 2005
Nice, rodney stewart. Pity there's no option for 'creepily homophobic' in the 'flag this post' drop-down menu.
On preview: Hi everyone!
posted by Sonny Jim at 1:49 PM on November 17, 2005
On preview: Hi everyone!
posted by Sonny Jim at 1:49 PM on November 17, 2005
I think it's funny the way English rugby is all public-schools and fag systems and toffs, whereas New Zealand rugby is beer-swilling blue-collar meat-heads.
Rodney should come to New Zealand and start bagging rugby in a pub to see if the 'poofters' come out of the woodwork...
Hi NZ Mefites!
posted by pivotal at 1:58 PM on November 17, 2005
Rodney should come to New Zealand and start bagging rugby in a pub to see if the 'poofters' come out of the woodwork...
Hi NZ Mefites!
posted by pivotal at 1:58 PM on November 17, 2005
Do the US qualify automatically for being the defending olympic champions?
posted by gauchodaspampas at 2:06 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by gauchodaspampas at 2:06 PM on November 17, 2005
Kia ora.
Japan can have it in 2015. It's nice that we'll get to have it one more time before it moves into the big money/big economy world circuit (see: Soccer World Cup, Olympics).
I also think it's hilarious that people above are slagging the IRB for its decision - that's usually a sport reserved for us Kiwis on virtually every other decision the blazer-wearing money-grubbers in Dublin make.
And I'll get to see some classic games at the Cake Tin: Japan v. Romania! Fiji v. Ukraine! Bring it on...
posted by noizyboy at 2:08 PM on November 17, 2005
Japan can have it in 2015. It's nice that we'll get to have it one more time before it moves into the big money/big economy world circuit (see: Soccer World Cup, Olympics).
I also think it's hilarious that people above are slagging the IRB for its decision - that's usually a sport reserved for us Kiwis on virtually every other decision the blazer-wearing money-grubbers in Dublin make.
And I'll get to see some classic games at the Cake Tin: Japan v. Romania! Fiji v. Ukraine! Bring it on...
posted by noizyboy at 2:08 PM on November 17, 2005
Do the US qualify automatically for being the defending olympic champions?
That is a fact never mentioned in NZ, outside of pub trivia night.
posted by noizyboy at 2:08 PM on November 17, 2005
That is a fact never mentioned in NZ, outside of pub trivia night.
posted by noizyboy at 2:08 PM on November 17, 2005
Sincere question: Is Jonah Lomu still a big factor in ruggers or has he retired?
posted by bardic at 2:11 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by bardic at 2:11 PM on November 17, 2005
Lomu's about to turn out for his first game at Welsh club Cardiff in the UK.
He says he wants to get back into the All Blacks for the 2007 World Cup, but I can't see him doing it - too old, he's lost all his speed, and look at what's come along since: Joe Rockococko, Rico Gear, Sitiveni Sitivatu and Doug Howlett.
posted by noizyboy at 2:18 PM on November 17, 2005
He says he wants to get back into the All Blacks for the 2007 World Cup, but I can't see him doing it - too old, he's lost all his speed, and look at what's come along since: Joe Rockococko, Rico Gear, Sitiveni Sitivatu and Doug Howlett.
posted by noizyboy at 2:18 PM on November 17, 2005
“soccer-playing nancy boys”
Here in the states, if you play rugby, you tend to have respect for those who grew up playing soccer with their ball control, big toes, and endurance as opposed to (American) footballers who just like to smash things and typically tackle people who’ve already passed.
Not that we’re not well-appreciated as packeys. But it’s usually the ex-soccer players who score out here.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:22 PM on November 17, 2005
Here in the states, if you play rugby, you tend to have respect for those who grew up playing soccer with their ball control, big toes, and endurance as opposed to (American) footballers who just like to smash things and typically tackle people who’ve already passed.
Not that we’re not well-appreciated as packeys. But it’s usually the ex-soccer players who score out here.
posted by Smedleyman at 2:22 PM on November 17, 2005
I was at Burger Fuel on Ponsonby Rd the other day, Jonah Lomu was there having a burger. Christ he's big. He looked hellishly fit too.
(He was wearing a t-shirt, though, and you could see the big lumpy bulging veins courtesy of dialysis and such.)
posted by The Monkey at 2:58 PM on November 17, 2005
(He was wearing a t-shirt, though, and you could see the big lumpy bulging veins courtesy of dialysis and such.)
posted by The Monkey at 2:58 PM on November 17, 2005
Look, us Australians know that there's only one World Cup that matters now.
posted by Jimbob at 4:24 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by Jimbob at 4:24 PM on November 17, 2005
Yeah, I'll be rooting for the Socceroos (I guess they'll have to be called the Footballroos or something now) next year. It goes against my instincts to support Australia in any sporting endeavour, but sometimes it's more fun to be neighbourly. I think thanks should go to John Safran for lifting the voodoo curse.
posted by Soulfather at 4:51 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by Soulfather at 4:51 PM on November 17, 2005
Yeah, I haven't heard Safran's comments on the win yet, but I'm sure he's got something to say. Should get a bloody knighthood, that man.
posted by Jimbob at 5:20 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by Jimbob at 5:20 PM on November 17, 2005
perfectly ok with me, Sonny Jim. at least so long as you'll endevour to likewise flag the original nancy-boy post while you're there.
after all, what’s good for the goose is always good for the gander.
posted by rodney stewart at 5:24 PM on November 17, 2005
after all, what’s good for the goose is always good for the gander.
posted by rodney stewart at 5:24 PM on November 17, 2005
Awwww damn... This will make it nigh near impossible to get cheap flights to visit the family in Mt Eden. Otherwise, excellent news! It's nice that the Kiwi's now have another international sporting event since handing over the America's Cup.
posted by michswiss at 6:06 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by michswiss at 6:06 PM on November 17, 2005
NZs obsession with rugby is a total and complete bummer.
posted by dydecker at 10:33 PM on November 17, 2005
posted by dydecker at 10:33 PM on November 17, 2005
no one expected it here at all , tall poppy syndrome be damned !
Now if only the Kiwis could qualify for the Football World cup next time life would be "sweet as"
posted by doogyrev at 11:23 PM on November 17, 2005
NZs obsession with rugby is a total and complete bummer.
Agreed. It's a lot like Melbourne's obsession with AFL. They are living in a cocoon where the rugby players walk around thinking they are god's gift and the locals agree, but to outsiders they are just furniture removalists with attitude.
posted by DirtyCreature at 1:37 AM on November 18, 2005
Agreed. It's a lot like Melbourne's obsession with AFL. They are living in a cocoon where the rugby players walk around thinking they are god's gift and the locals agree, but to outsiders they are just furniture removalists with attitude.
posted by DirtyCreature at 1:37 AM on November 18, 2005
Having taken a small survey of just myself I've come to the conclusion that RU is the international sport that has the most people actively wanting their own country to lose whilst simultaneusly not giving a flying rat's ass for the game.
posted by vbfg at 3:28 AM on November 18, 2005
posted by vbfg at 3:28 AM on November 18, 2005
*nod to NZ mefis*
Rugby's just a sport, and people getting enthusiastic about any sport is pretty harmless. There's always the "that sport is so boring" brigade, but methinks they doth protest too much.
posted by Paragon at 5:50 AM on November 18, 2005
Rugby's just a sport, and people getting enthusiastic about any sport is pretty harmless. There's always the "that sport is so boring" brigade, but methinks they doth protest too much.
posted by Paragon at 5:50 AM on November 18, 2005
Just popping in to wish the All Blacks pob lwc tomorrow with the English. And can we borrow one of your spare wingers to play Australia. Go on. Please.
posted by couch at 7:04 AM on November 18, 2005
posted by couch at 7:04 AM on November 18, 2005
Paragon, I listened to two hours of Morning Report yesterday and fully one hour and 20 minutes was devoted to this fascinating announcement. As you say, rugby is just a sport. Don't you think it should be confined to the sports section where it belongs? Ten minutes I might be able to bear but 80 mins of coverage of this announcement is not fair coverage, it is the product of a national pathological obsession.
The Prime Minister of NZ flew fully *halfway around the world* to make a speech at a meeting to argue the case for hosting this event. Did any other prime minister do this? No, because it matters not a jot in the wider scheme of things, except to New Zealanders. It is an unsophisticated, provincial look.
What is even worse is that the NZ Govt underwrites these professional sporting events so your "harmless" hobby is effectively being subsidized by the other half of the population who aren't interested in rugby at all.
posted by dydecker at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2005
The Prime Minister of NZ flew fully *halfway around the world* to make a speech at a meeting to argue the case for hosting this event. Did any other prime minister do this? No, because it matters not a jot in the wider scheme of things, except to New Zealanders. It is an unsophisticated, provincial look.
What is even worse is that the NZ Govt underwrites these professional sporting events so your "harmless" hobby is effectively being subsidized by the other half of the population who aren't interested in rugby at all.
posted by dydecker at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2005
Some quotes on this auspicious day:
It's a great day to be a Kiwi," said Hobbs. "Rugby is so important to New Zealand. It defines who we are in many respects."
"There are four million people in New Zealand and every one of them feels they have a share of the All Blacks." the former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick.
These statements are self-serving lies.
posted by dydecker at 9:14 AM on November 18, 2005
It's a great day to be a Kiwi," said Hobbs. "Rugby is so important to New Zealand. It defines who we are in many respects."
"There are four million people in New Zealand and every one of them feels they have a share of the All Blacks." the former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick.
These statements are self-serving lies.
posted by dydecker at 9:14 AM on November 18, 2005
It is good news and altough I despair sometimes at the budgetary whims of the New Zealand Government - I welcome the investment in infrastructure that will be neccessary to successfully host the world cup
posted by Samuel Farrow at 9:24 AM on November 18, 2005
posted by Samuel Farrow at 9:24 AM on November 18, 2005
dydecker: I think rugby-heads in NZ do give themselves too much credit, as the rest of the country isn't as behind them as they think. But I still think the widespread (if not universal) obsession with rugby in NZ is cute. A tad provincial? Sure, but at least it's mostly harmless.
*completely off topic* As for Morning Report, they often go out on a limb and decide to spend 80% of their time talking about the same thing. Remember last week's Rod Donald episode? Or how about their 'mainstream' interview with DB before the election that went on for what seemed like 20 minutes. They need a firm editorial hand.
posted by newscouch at 12:03 PM on November 18, 2005
*completely off topic* As for Morning Report, they often go out on a limb and decide to spend 80% of their time talking about the same thing. Remember last week's Rod Donald episode? Or how about their 'mainstream' interview with DB before the election that went on for what seemed like 20 minutes. They need a firm editorial hand.
posted by newscouch at 12:03 PM on November 18, 2005
Oh, I dislike rugby myself, don't get me wrong, and the media wank was most amusing (although not, as newscouch notes, unusual) - they could have discussed the economic and infrastructure effects a bit more on Morning Report, frex, which was a very good reason for the govt to get involved.
But as far as a sports obsession being a bad thing - I share my office with a fanatic who spends all day every day swapping rugby and cricket trivia with another fanatic, and as long as they're doing that he's not rattling on about the 'terrors of Political Correctness' talking points to me while I'm trying to work.
That said, it's very easy to act patronising towards any obsession, but personally I find obsessions fascinating. Better alive with some passion than dead with none.
posted by Paragon at 3:42 PM on November 18, 2005
But as far as a sports obsession being a bad thing - I share my office with a fanatic who spends all day every day swapping rugby and cricket trivia with another fanatic, and as long as they're doing that he's not rattling on about the 'terrors of Political Correctness' talking points to me while I'm trying to work.
That said, it's very easy to act patronising towards any obsession, but personally I find obsessions fascinating. Better alive with some passion than dead with none.
posted by Paragon at 3:42 PM on November 18, 2005
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Eden Park has been there longer than any of its neighbours, so if they don't like it they should have bought houses elsewhere. It's not as if rugby and cricket audiences are known for random property destruction.
posted by Soulfather at 12:31 PM on November 17, 2005