Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Other Stuff
The Clubhouse Bar
Your Top 5 Sporting Memories
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="admartian" data-source="post: 500640" data-attributes="member: 38996"><p><strong>October, 2011 - RWC Final (NZ vs FRA):</SPAN></strong></p><p>The 20 year wait to exhale for NZ rugby fans (not counting the rest of NZ that think they're too cool by not liking rugby or any sport for that matter). For the whole week, I can still remember the atmosphere of the city, heck even country - much different to the glorious win over Australia the week before. Many felt we had played our Final that week; and many also thought we would spank the French (later, and only very recently do the All Blacks admit that they were mentally and physically spent after that Australia game).</p><p></p><p>The local council set up multiple screens in the main city, and closed of several roads ion order to facilitate the massive screens. Tons of people were there clad in black.</p><p></p><p>If there was an aerial photo that night, you'd mistake the city to be covered in oil.</p><p></p><p>With a beaten up All Blacks team missing our "QB" Dan Carter, and his backup Colin Slade, we had to rely on our 3rd string 21-odd year old who was skateboarding only 2 and a half weeks earlier. For insurance, we called New Zealand's most hated and feared (mainly for fear of his innate and unmatched ability to lose games single-handedly) number 10 - <em><strong>Stephen Donald</SPAN></strong></em>. Not to mention Captain New Zealand himself, had been hobbling on one foot; his Lieutenant, Kieran Read, had barely recovered from a round robin injury; and despite Weepu's form against Argentina, had faded.</p><p></p><p>Apart from the Try-line sniffing prop, Tony Woodcock's try would be the last moment of joy for some time throughout the game. For the rest of it, the crowd would be teetering on nerves. The last half an hour was excruciating. I was jumping up and down to try and relieve the anxiety. Then I started crouching and slightly hyperventilating. Donald kicked the goal. And then the French missed the go-ahead penalty.</p><p></p><p>The last 15 minutes turned into an eternity. And when the boys took the ball with ~2minutes to spare; everyone in the crowd willed and echoed for them to hang onto it. </p><p></p><p>Then, probably one of the most beautiful noises I will ever hear in all sport -the final whistle with roars on top from the rest of Auckland. I could literally hear the rest of the city, where tens of thousands of others scattered around with their own screens; were celebrating in joy. Strangers were hugging in celebration, and even saw a couple of South Africans wearing "All Bok" shirts (a mix of Black and Green) from the week before showing support of their adopted country against a common enemy :lol:.</p><p></p><p>Not many sporting events will top this day. Maybe the Ravens winning the Super Bowl will come close (they won in 2000/2001, I was barely watching the NFL then though). Even still, I doubt it will have the same atmosphere and feel as the RWC 2011 did.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>After that, the next moments will have to be in the last NFL season - Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. The final game-winning drive from their own 8 yard line, by Joe Flacco to win the game with seconds left. I remember coming home from work to catch it online and thinking to myself, 'we are toast, the Steelers have this'. Only to witness one of the greatest comebacks in one of sports best rivalries.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Next would probably be in Eden Park years ago; where NZ chased AUS score of 340+. A re-called Craig McMillan and a once promising Brendan McCullum chasing down the score. The final runs coming from a Glen McGrath bouncer hooked away for 4.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Another comeback story; the P4P king of combat sports, Anderson Silva who was a heavy favourite tow in, had been beaten down for most of the fight. In the last round, the fight was Chael Sonnen's and it was only 2 minutes or so away from claiming the belt. Then, came another moment that every BJJ practitioner knows is possible - Silva catching Sonnen in an Armlock/Triangle choke combination to win. It was a Rocky story of our time, and I couln't believe what I saw.</p><p></p><p>Seeing the NZ Breakers win back-to-back this year at Vector Arena was also special. A close tense game, and really solidified my love for Basketball.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>(sorry for the essay <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick Out Tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" />) :lol:</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="admartian, post: 500640, member: 38996"] [B]October, 2011 - RWC Final (NZ vs FRA):</SPAN>[/B] The 20 year wait to exhale for NZ rugby fans (not counting the rest of NZ that think they're too cool by not liking rugby or any sport for that matter). For the whole week, I can still remember the atmosphere of the city, heck even country - much different to the glorious win over Australia the week before. Many felt we had played our Final that week; and many also thought we would spank the French (later, and only very recently do the All Blacks admit that they were mentally and physically spent after that Australia game). The local council set up multiple screens in the main city, and closed of several roads ion order to facilitate the massive screens. Tons of people were there clad in black. If there was an aerial photo that night, you'd mistake the city to be covered in oil. With a beaten up All Blacks team missing our "QB" Dan Carter, and his backup Colin Slade, we had to rely on our 3rd string 21-odd year old who was skateboarding only 2 and a half weeks earlier. For insurance, we called New Zealand's most hated and feared (mainly for fear of his innate and unmatched ability to lose games single-handedly) number 10 - [I][B]Stephen Donald</SPAN>[/B][/I]. Not to mention Captain New Zealand himself, had been hobbling on one foot; his Lieutenant, Kieran Read, had barely recovered from a round robin injury; and despite Weepu's form against Argentina, had faded. Apart from the Try-line sniffing prop, Tony Woodcock's try would be the last moment of joy for some time throughout the game. For the rest of it, the crowd would be teetering on nerves. The last half an hour was excruciating. I was jumping up and down to try and relieve the anxiety. Then I started crouching and slightly hyperventilating. Donald kicked the goal. And then the French missed the go-ahead penalty. The last 15 minutes turned into an eternity. And when the boys took the ball with ~2minutes to spare; everyone in the crowd willed and echoed for them to hang onto it. Then, probably one of the most beautiful noises I will ever hear in all sport -the final whistle with roars on top from the rest of Auckland. I could literally hear the rest of the city, where tens of thousands of others scattered around with their own screens; were celebrating in joy. Strangers were hugging in celebration, and even saw a couple of South Africans wearing "All Bok" shirts (a mix of Black and Green) from the week before showing support of their adopted country against a common enemy :lol:. Not many sporting events will top this day. Maybe the Ravens winning the Super Bowl will come close (they won in 2000/2001, I was barely watching the NFL then though). Even still, I doubt it will have the same atmosphere and feel as the RWC 2011 did. After that, the next moments will have to be in the last NFL season - Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. The final game-winning drive from their own 8 yard line, by Joe Flacco to win the game with seconds left. I remember coming home from work to catch it online and thinking to myself, 'we are toast, the Steelers have this'. Only to witness one of the greatest comebacks in one of sports best rivalries. Next would probably be in Eden Park years ago; where NZ chased AUS score of 340+. A re-called Craig McMillan and a once promising Brendan McCullum chasing down the score. The final runs coming from a Glen McGrath bouncer hooked away for 4. Another comeback story; the P4P king of combat sports, Anderson Silva who was a heavy favourite tow in, had been beaten down for most of the fight. In the last round, the fight was Chael Sonnen's and it was only 2 minutes or so away from claiming the belt. Then, came another moment that every BJJ practitioner knows is possible - Silva catching Sonnen in an Armlock/Triangle choke combination to win. It was a Rocky story of our time, and I couln't believe what I saw. Seeing the NZ Breakers win back-to-back this year at Vector Arena was also special. A close tense game, and really solidified my love for Basketball. (sorry for the essay :p) :lol: [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Other Stuff
The Clubhouse Bar
Your Top 5 Sporting Memories
Top