From what I've gleaned from various sites, they've had an amazing year so far, defeating Wales, Ireland, South Africa (whom they also lost to), Fiji, Australia (twice), England, and the British and Irish Lions this year, adding a win just last week over Scotland, in Edinburgh. Their former star, Jonah Lomu, is no longer playing with the squad, but dredlocked, longtime captain Tana Umaga, is still hammering opponents. Here are a few of my favorite recent All Blacks shots (most are from AllBlacks.com); I'll post more down the road. If you get Once Were Warriors flashbacks, that's not a bad thing! Enjoy!
Saimone Taumoepeau
Keven Mealamu and Rodney So'oialo
Rodney So'oailo
Sitiveni Sivivatu, Maa Allan Nonu, Mils Mulaina, Mose Tuiali'i, and Sione Lauaki
Mose Tuiali'i
Tana Umaga, All Blacks Captain and hard-tackling star
Josevata Rokocoko (or Rokothoko)
(L to R) Getting ready for the scrum machine, Sione Lauaki, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, and Neemia Tialata
Jonah Lomu, one of the best ever, in his prime (he starred from 1994-2002)
One of the few things I'll give the Fox network of stations credit for is getting M and I hooked on rugby. Fox SportsWorld covered the Austrailian teams season, which always ended with the Tri-Nations tourney (AU, ZN, and South Africa), so we got to see the All Blacks (with Jonah still dazzling but toward the end of his career). Sadly a change in our cable service/reshuffling of channels ended our connection to Fox SportsWorld. We keep lobbying for its return. We've also, sadly, never been able to get down to DC to see their team, the Washington Renegades, play. They're a model of gay/straight, white/(still not enough) Men of Color teamwork and interaction.
ReplyDeleteAnd great to see Umaga as Captain of the All Blacks! He was always a very tough competetor.
I second your reccomendation of Once Were Warriors, a FANTASTIC film, that packs quite an emotional wallop. And some of the characters in the film visually remind me of the Other Half's family and my cousins on my Mother's side.
PS: That photo of Keven Mealamu and Rodney So'oialo is makes me *weak*! Dayum.....
Keguro, yes they are...! I'm also going to post some photos of the South African national team. I'll look to see if I can find some Kenyan ruggers... :-)
ReplyDeleteReggie, you're right about Fox SportsWorld. I used to get it in Chi and it was part of our mix in NJ too but I think in both places it's no longer part of hte basic package. I'm not at all familiar with the Washington Renegades. Is it a professional or club team? Umaga has been captain for the last two years, I think. Speaking of ONCE WERE WARRIORS, I always keep waiting for similar films about the Maoris, Polynesians, Fijians, Tongans, Wallisians, and Aborigines--the Black folks of Australia and New Zealand--to appear, but while I come across some cheesy ones, I haven't seen too many new and really good ones. Have you come across any? I also find the lack of discussion about the cultural affinities with and impact of Black American, African and Black Diasporic pop culture interesting. Do you know if anyone is writing about this? I once went to a NYU talk where this anthropologist claimed OUTRIGHT that while there were some tenuous cultural links (like the cargo cults, admiration for MLK Jr. etc.), there were no direct genetic links or ties, and he basically tried to construct the Micronesians and Aboriginals of the South Pacific as if they'd developed in a vacuum. My eyes are fooling me, so hello???
ummmm yummy. :) thanks for this, john. I may have to start watching rugby again!
ReplyDeleteRyan, yummy yes! Donald, LOL!
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