[Sheldon]

Watching the All Blacks stumble against the French on Saturday made me wonder what it must be like on a Monday morning in New Zealand after the All Blacks have lost. Are they really that important to the national psyche? I wore my Springbok jersey in New Zealand last year, and found the response I got rather friendly from most people.

[Duncan74]

Hey, I'm only moving so I'm in place and settled for 2017 Lions tour ;-)

Listening to the radio when we were there for the recce during the ENgland cricket tour last year was funny. NZ had a good session, and it was the 'Black Caps magestic against an embarassing england team ripe for a whooping" (quote, More FM sports news). Later that day. "Streaky England frustrate the Black Caps by taking 5 wickets". Amusingly myopic view on their sports teams.

Not at all like is in England, oh no, not at all ;-)

[Sheldon]

I was in England 8 or 9 years ago when New Zealand won a cricket test series on English soil. The headline in one of the tabloids went along the lines of "The death of our national game" The article went on to ask the question "can things get any worse from here? Let's play Kenya and find out!" Had a good chuckle at that one.

[M-Squared]

I wore my Springbok jersey in New Zealand last year, and found the response I got rather friendly from most people.

That's because NZ is a friendly nation.

What reaction - HONESTLY - have people have got in Pretoria, wearing AB clothes?

[Sheldon]

That's because NZ is a friendly nation.

What reaction - HONESTLY - have people have got in Pretoria, wearing AB clothes?

Having watched a game or two at Loftus Versveld (Pretoria rugby stadium), as a Sharks supporter (reviled by the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls), I can say that the reception would be rather "warm". However, in Durban the reception would be more friendly, but still with a fair amount of banter. It would be less so if it were Australia. A few years back I attended a Tri Nations test in Johannesburg where the big screen kept showing an animated sheep hopping around with a carrot stuck up it's backside. Poor taste, but it got a few laughs! Australians cop a fair share of stick in these parts.

[Jo Jo]

I think kiwis only get depressed if the All Blacks lose against Australia, (or maybe that's just my family :D). They seem to like the Springboks, so I'm not surprised you got a friendly response from people when you were wearing a Springboks shirt.

One thing I have found nice is that when you move here, you're not expected to support the All Blacks against your home team - I went to see the All Blacks vs England last year, and my father-in-law asked me who I'd be supporting. I said England, and he said, "Good on ya." After England lost he asked me if I'd be switching allegiance, and I said no, to which he said, "Well, I don't blame you. You can't change your heart. I bet you wish they won more often though." Sweet.

[Sheldon]

I think kiwis only get depressed if the All Blacks lose against Australia, (or maybe that's just my family :D). They seem to like the Springboks, so I'm not surprised you got a friendly response from people when you were wearing a Springboks shirt.

One thing I have found nice is that when you move here, you're not expected to support the All Blacks against your home team - I went to see the All Blacks vs England last year, and my father-in-law asked me who I'd be supporting. I said England, and he said, "Good on ya." After England lost he asked me if I'd be switching allegiance, and I said no, to which he said, "Well, I don't blame you. You can't change your heart. I bet you wish they won more often though." Sweet.

That's a nice story. My friend has been in NZ for 12 years and still supports the Springboks. I watched a NZ-Aus test (on tv) with him and some Kiwi mates while I was there last year. It was a terrible game, and the one Kiwi remarked "You would expect better from the two best teams in the world" I couldn't resist, and replied "Yes, you would expect better from two world cup quarter finalists!" He replied "Fair dinkum", and that was the end of that conversation!

[dusk]

I think it's important for people to support rugby (and other sports, but there's certainly a LOT of rugby of various flavours and levels here) but as Jo JO said no one seems to mind who you support ;)

[James 1077]

I also think that the All Blacks god-like status has decreased significantly over the last few years. Reports in the press before the France game were asking if this was the worst All Blacks team ever and that just wouldn't have been printed 10 years ago.

I think a few world cups of being beaten early haven't helped!

[Sheldon]

The World cup thing is a huge monkey on their backs.

[welsh_italian]

Being a rugby man myself, I asked my kiwi mates about this. They really never expected me to stop supporting Wales but some did want me to support the ABs against anyone else!

Talking of whom, I work near the hotel in Welly that they're staying in and saw a few of the team off their coach today! :)

[Sheldon]

It's not just a case of flicking a switch, and bang you're an All Black fan. Imagine a Liverpool fan who moved to Manchester. Would Man Utd suddenly be his second team? 'Fraid not guv!

[andrewp]

Being a rugby man myself, I asked my kiwi mates about this. They really never expected me to stop supporting Wales but some did want me to support the ABs against anyone else!

Talking of whom, I work near the hotel in Welly that they're staying in and saw a few of the team off their coach today! :)

Yip - mirrors my experience.

[kejktfc]

Watching the New Zealand v South Africa game in the Confederations Cup last night... whilst yes I want to move to NZ, sorry I had to support SA. I can't see that changing if I do move, and I have always supported the Springboks.

(Note, whilst I may be in the UK I am first generation Brit with a South African mother) :cool:

kejktfc

[Sheldon]

Watching the New Zealand v South Africa game in the Confederations Cup last night... whilst yes I want to move to NZ, sorry I had to support SA. I can't see that changing if I do move, and I have always supported the Springboks.

(Note, whilst I may be in the UK I am first generation Brit with a South African mother) :cool:

kejktfc

Good on yer mate! We're doing ok in the cricket as well. Beat England and India, and Aus self destructed. Doesn't get better than that eh?

[dharder]

Watching the New Zealand v South Africa game in the Confederations Cup last night... whilst yes I want to move to NZ, sorry I had to support SA. I can't see that changing if I do move, and I have always supported the Springboks.

The sports thing is funny. I moved to the UK 13 years ago, and over time have started to support pretty much all UK sports teams and individuals. Except football, when England play Germany. I will not and cannot change my allegiance, for some reason, it seems to be far to deeply ingrained in me! And I am not even particularly interested in football in general, just watch World Championships and European Championships, and can happily support England against everyone else :)

Daniela

[Incognito]

I just saw the All Blacks getting off their bus going into the hotel..................mmmmm thighs :)

[benandclare]

Full on All Blacks supporter here since moving, except when they play Scotland :nice1

[Jon&Candy]

I went to watch the ABs vs France at the Caketin last night and was surprised just how negative the AB Fans are. At one point, the guy in front of me turned around and said the morons don't deserve to win. As it happens, they absolutely dominated every aspect of the game in terrible conditions with a bar of soap for a ball.

I get the impression that when the ABs win the Rugby World Cup in 2011, the fans still won't be satisfied. They'll be saying that they should have won it a long time before and that the home advantage means it doesn't really count.

[incredible hulse]

Must say it surprised me when I first got here that despite all the talk of being a rugby obsessed nation how little Kiwis actually go to the game. The caketin is very rarely filled (not helped by the way over priced tickets) and seems most Kiwis support their team from the comfort of their armchair. Despite this fact they all claim to be fanatical about the game. From someone who's followed Leeds all round the UK and Europe with little success to cheer in 30 years I struggle to take them seriously when they do.

In terms of who to support when the AB's are playing. To be honest not really bothered - born and bred an Englishman so can't see me switching allegiances now.