Rugby World Cup 2011

Image courtesy of rugbyworldcup.com

The Rugby World Cup is gearing up for a fantastic opening ceremony, with the first match being between the All Blacks (NZ) and Tonga at 8:30pm Friday 9 Sep NZT (2:30am Friday EST).  It's nigh on impossible to get coverage here in the US, especially if you don't have TV and you're trying to stream it free of charge...  So I've been listening to my favourite Kiwi radio chat show, NewstalkZB (that's ZedBee, not ZeeBee) and caught a gem this evening:

Little Jane was in class one day, listening while her Australian teacher was telling the children about the Rugby World Cup.  Each student was telling which team they were supporting and finally it was Little Jane's turn.

"I like the All Blacks," she said.
"Why do you like them?" asked her teacher. "The Wallabies are much better."
"My Dad likes the All Blacks, my Mum likes the All Blacks, so I like the All Blacks," said Jane.
"That's silly!" said the teacher.  "You shouldn't do something just because other people are doing it.  If your dad was a moron and your mum was a moron, what would that make you?"
Little Jane said with a grin, "A Wallabies supporter!"

~ ~ ~

I also heard a guy call in with a website that promises free streaming (click HERE) and it looks promising to me.  I guess I'll find out in about 4.5 hours, or even sooner if it broadcasts the opening ceremony also.

In the words of Tana Umaga; BRING IT!

Last Man Standing: All Blacks & Lions

I just found this on YouTube - All Blacks & Lions playing Last Man Standing.  It's probably old news for the folks back home but it's a goodie!  These guys must have played a brutal game of bullrush when they were kids...

Some things to watch for:

• at 1:24 there's a Lion hiding behind the lamppost.
• at 2:20 a Lion picks up his teammate and drops him to the side
• it looks like All Black Joe Rokocoko (pronounced Rokothoko) might just make it through at the end

UPDATE: I played this to a couple of people here who didn't get what was going on... so a quick explanation:
At the start you have the All Blacks and Lions lined up at one end of the field, with one guy in the middle of the field by himself (Tana Umaga).  They all try to make it to the other end of the field, while Umaga tries to stop them.  He tackles one Lion in the first rush, who is now on Umaga's team and stands with him in the middle.  They both try to stop players in the next rush and end up with three new guys on their side.  It keeps going like that with more guys being tackled until there are only two left on the original team.  They rush the pack and try to get through...

Enjoy!!