Of the Rugby World Cup and the NZ Psyche

It’s over. The final whistle has blown. The All Blacks emerged as Champions. Just. I thought it was a dour game. Two gladiatorial sides beating the crap out of each other made for a lack of spectacle. Stressful to watch? Perhaps.I’ll start by acknowledging how successful this event has been. Yes it has cost NZ some millions of dollars (a loss on paper), but from a worldwide exposure perspective, it’s probably been worthwhile. Seeing Ma’a Nonu’s photo in a Chinese language newspaper on an internal flight in China suggests that it has draw outside of the traditional rugby playing countries. This is a good thing.The concept of a ‘stadium of 4 million’ worked. And New Zealand stood up. It was great to see a World-Class opening Ceremony. It was great to see an army of volunteers get involved.One aspect of this World Cup I’ve been intrigued about is to do with the psychology of this sport with respect to a Nation who follows it.The idea that “We Won!”. When we didn’t. A team of highly-trained, highly-conditioned, elite athletes won. We are, as a nation, elated when the All Blacks win. We are, as a nation, depressed when the All Blacks lose.I have found myself curiously disconnected from this Cup. I enjoyed watching the games, but that really was about it for me.Yes, it is OUR sport. And the World came here to play it. And New Zealand backed it. And celebrated.But there are aspects of how we as New Zealander's behave that bother me.I really don’t like how we back a player. Put him on a pedestal. Then he breaks down and it is doom and gloom. And then another player performs well (as you’d expect from a top-level sportsperson). Then he breaks down. Another rises to the challenge. The media wet their pants. T-shirts are printed and sold. Photo imagery is retouched and goes viral. Then on the crucial day HE fails. And all of a sudden, a player who was overlooked because he was 4th best, takes a kick from out in front. And he becomes a hero? Really?How quickly we venerate then pillory.We are also brutal when addressing certain other teams. England? South Africa? Australia? These guys feel our wrath. We like to focus on a player or an event and then put the boot in. And I do think that we often cross the line of ‘fair play’ and 'baiting the opposition' into xenophobia. Ask Quade.And then post-Event.Auckland decides to have a parade. This is of course a very good thing. The All Blacks deserved it. The fans loved being able to see the Champions. But the organisational contrast between a global sporting event and a local tribute was telling.I want to know why it wasn’t pre-planned and prepared weeks ago. In the event that the All Blacks won. There should have also been an event pre-planned and prepared in the event that the All Blacks lost. No one is going to 'jinx' anything by planning for eventualities.The parade was a short route. On the back of Ford utility vehicles. The entertainment? A marching band (nice!), some people dressed as kiwifruit and Warehouse kiwis. Some ‘dancers’ (?) in gumboots. Some pre-pubescent gymnasts. A couple of stilt-walkers. Ticker tape of every hue other than our colours.Yes, people enjoyed it, being part of the crowd and soaking up the atmosphere. The All Blacks enjoyed it. But it was... OK. And this is my point. It should have been excellent. It absolutely could have been done better. Better route planning. Better vehicles. Better celebration (an example off the top of my head - why not get every rugby club in the Auckland region involved in the parade in some way). Better rehearsed entertainment. Actual black and white ticker tape and in decent quantities. A Civic reception in Aotea Square, where the team, Mayor and other dignitaries could address the crowd.The All Blacks deserved this, in my opinion.I heard the statement: “How great it is to be a New Zealander today”.I’ve thought about my response. It turns out I am not defined as a New Zealander by whether the All Blacks succeed or fail. I like being a New Zealander in general but I don’t like some of our attitudes. I do think we need to grow up as a country. Doing things ‘OK’ isn’t good enough. We need to strive to do things excellently.- S