It’s election time! Are we all sick of it yet? I’m a political junky, but I am so happy about this announcement just because I want the election to be over. Only 5 weeks more now.
And in that spirit, let’s not talk about the election today. It’s a Sunday, I’m a bit hung over and I couldn’t be bothered writing about politics. ,So let’s talk about something really important – football!
Last night was the Super 15 final in Hamilton. And whilst I am bitterly disappointed to see the Brumbies lose in a nail biter, it was a great match to watch. A final worthy of the sport.
Over the past 6 – 8 months Rugby Union has quickly become my favourite sport. I have truly fallen in love.
I first started to get into union when I was a kid. My first real memory of the sport was heading to a pub in Murrumbatemen to watch the 2000 Super 12 (I forgot that it used to only be 12 teams) final. It was a miserable night. Freezing cold Canberra weather (it snowed the next day). Sitting inside a packed pub we watched the Brumbies lose by one bloody miserable point. I remember driving home, and it was sleeting, and feeling absolutely depressed.
A few years later, we managed to get tickets to the 2004 final (The Brumbies won the final in 2001 and lost in 2002, but for some reason I can’t remember those seasons), where we got our revenge. I will always remember watching Joe Roff score the final try to put the result out of any doubt. It was his final game and a great way to send off.
But in general, I’ve never really felt Rugby was a true love. I’ve enjoyed the game, but never really been obsessed. To be fair, I don’t get sports obsessed anyway. I used to be very AFL obsessed, but I’ve lost that over the past few years (maybe it will come back when my team starts to do well gain). I’ve never really felt the sport obsession.
But I reckon that has started to change now, and last night’s final cemented it for me.
At the start of this year I decided to join a rugby team – the Hustlers in Brisbane. The Hustlers is a gay-friendly team. I joined largely because I wanted to find a way into some community in Brisbane. Moving to a new city, I knew playing sport was a great way to meet people, and I felt like trying something different. I had always thought rugby would be fun to play as well – I have the build for it, and it would be a great way to get out any aggression I have.
And I have fallen in love.
I’ve struggled to really nail down exactly what it is about rugby that I love so much, but I think it is the variety. Last night you could see it. The tries scored by both teams were the result of great running play – a free flow in the sport that you can’t help but want to watch. Lealiifano’s try was a great example of it – a shift in play that came out of no where. A sudden burst of brilliance and the game was turned on it’s head.
But then at the other end, you can also see a slow, strategic, defensive game. If it wasn’t for the Brumbies defence last night I think it could have been a blow out (the same could be said for the week before). For phase after phase they managed to keep the Chiefs out – holding the ball up it tremendous fashion. The phases we slow, and to a naked eye could be seen as boring. But watching it close up you could see amazing skill, amazing patience and amazing strategy.
And I think that is what I love about the sport more than anything else. Rugby is also a really smart game. And you can see it with the Brumbies. Now, don’t get me wrong, the Brumbies squad is excellent. But it was only a couple of years ago that they were struggling to even win any games, let alone get so close to winning the final. And although their team has certainly improved, it is not necessarily through raw talent that they have made such a change. The Brumbies real change has been in direction and in strategy – the Jake White affect (I always think his name is Jack White – makes life very confusing). Last night you could see it in full swing – kicking for territory, strong defence, taking points wherever we could get them. It was the strategy that almost won it for the Brumbies last night, and I love that. You can’t just get away with buying the best team – you have to think about it.
Of course every sport has its strategy. But the thing about rugby is how integral it is. I often hear people complain about how confusing the rules of union are. But for me that is what makes it great. It is a technical game and you just can’t help but enjoy it. There is raw talent, matched with an intelligence that I just don’t think I see in many other sports.
And then of course, you get to smash some people. That’s the best bit.
Rugby. Last night proved how awesome it is. Amazing game.
ps. I get a terrible sense of awful rugby ‘fan-boyness’ happening in this post. Oh well.