A few months ago, Locums for a Small World was spot on when we wrote that the 2010 FIFA World Cup might spell redemption for New Zealand’s All Whites. Making their first appearance in the tournament in 28 years, this 78th ranked squad - made up of four amateurs and led by the lowest-paid coach - left the World Cup as the only undefeated team in the world. They also took home the Fox Sports News Team of the Tournament award. Their captain, Ryan Nelsen, remarked, "Cinderella stories happen and that's why football (soccer) is the best game in the world."
Dancing in the streets continues Down Under, as Kiwis turn their eyes to the other end of the color spectrum and the All Blacks, the country's premier rugby union. The team is ramping up their run to the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC), and they won't have to go far: New Zealand was selected as the host country for 2011. Could be why so many doctors are planning Down Under locum assignments now.
Selection for the RWC was awarded in 2005. As one of the biggest sports events in the world, the RWC is an incredible opportunity for New Zealand to showcase itself to an audience estimated at four billion. Over 70,000 overseas visitors are expected to land on New Zealand’s shores, and they won’t be disappointed: no one does rugby like the Kiwis, who believe rugby is more of a religion than a sport.
As New Zealand's unofficial national sport, rugby attracts huge audiences - as many as 5,000 fans turn out just to watch the All Blacks practice; the country boasts a rugby “telly” network that broadcasts hundreds of games every year; New Zealand's national symbol, the Kiwi, was even adopted after the All Blacks outperformed their competition on a British tour at the turn of the century.
This brings us to the haka - and an event as big as the rugby itself. A Maori tribal war dance, the haka has now been immortalized by the All Blacks who perform it at the opening of each and every match. The haka is an expression of passion, vigor and racial identity, and it's intimidating as well as entertaining. But it's not merely a pastime, it’s a custom of high social importance in the Maori culture. As a vital part of the welcoming and entertainment of visitors, a tribe’s reputation rose and fell based on their ability to perform the haka. Now, the haka's mystique has evolved along with the fierce determination and high level of skill that’s become the hallmark of New Zealand’s national game. You can see the All Blacks in haka action here, but nothing compares to seeing it live.
Rugby excitement is building on both islands. With more than 400 days to go until the RWC kickoff, kiosks are already lining the streets peddling various World Cup wares. Queen’s Wharf in Auckland has begun outfitting itself as the main gathering zone where fans - nay, disciples - of rugby gather to share stories of yesteryear amidst the carnival-like atmosphere. And despite the warm temperatures, black is now the color of choice for die-hard fans in Land of the Long White Cloud.
Yes, personal devotion to individual teams will be set aside as Kiwis unite for the RWG and don black, all black, in support for their revered and storied club. Thirteen venues in 12 cities from Whangarei to Invercargill will host matches, beginning with the opening kick-off match at Auckland’s Eden Park. The matchup? New Zealand vs. Tonga. Time to start planning a locum assignment in New Zealand, ay? If you aren't convinced, get a taste of the incredible scenery and rugby action here and then tell us you don't want to go to New Zealand.
Say it with me: All Whites.
It's the nickname of the oft-cursed, yet still-beloved New Zealand national football team and these two tiny words will incite any Kiwi, young or old.
Not since 1982 (back in the "yonks") have the All Whites made an appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals, yet last month they overcame Bahrain in a 1-to-0 squeaker that qualified them for the World Cup this coming summer. Fans from Wellington to Half Moon Bay and beyond are still celebrating. And get this: the All Whites are an amateur team.
The last time the All Whites made it to the World Cup, gas was 91 cents a gallon, Disney opened Epcot Center and the computer was Time magazine's "Man of the Year." Unfortunately, the All Whites of 1982 were swept in three games and have struggled ever since to make it back to the tournament of all tournaments.
New Zealand football (Americans, you call it "soccer") has struggled to compete with other sports like rugby and cricket, which garnish most of the attention and money in the NZ sports world. (In a strange twist of fate, the NZ rugby team is called the All Blacks.) As a result, NZ football athletes have abandoned opportunities to play for their national team, opting instead to play for higher-paying leagues in Europe and the U.S. The national team also now competes with a semi-professional league, the NZ Football Championship, which was established in 2004.
So, you can imagine how excited All Whites fans were when their "rag tag" amateur football club beat Bahrain on the road to the biggest show in the world - which is seen by over 700 million people. What's more, over 200 teams battle it out to become one of the 32 clubs to make the World Cup. This year, the All Whites will be among them. But getting there was no mean feat.
A stalemate match with Bahrain in their capital city of Manama led to a showdown in New Zealand's own Wellington on November 14. Reports of seismic activity were reported as record crowds converged on Westpac Stadium to watch history in the making. The All Whites' 1-0 win came off a Rory Fallon goal in the 45th minute of the first half and a blocked-penalty kick early in the second by Mark Paston.
Kiwis, many of whom were not even alive the last time the club saw a World Cup, took to the streets and for the first time in a long while, shouts of "All Whites are #1!" were heard ‘round the world.
Yes, the summer of 2010 might spell redemption for the All Whites club, but it won't be easy. On December 4th the club was grouped with the likes of defending World Cup champs Italy, Paraguay, and Slovakia. Bookmakers have already set the odds at 3,000 to one! All Whites fans say "bugger off" to the bookies (per a lyric in the official All Whites song, "One Shot for Glory"). The Kiwis are feeling downright euphoric about their team's chances in South Africa, and win or lose, the team has given New Zealanders everywhere something to cheer about for a good long while.