Archive for February, 2007

Ahhhh Rugby. The only thing I can truly say that ever unites Fiji. That and grog. And…maybe Shortland Street…though I guess only the women would nod their heads to that one.

The build-up to the Wellington Sevens was one filled with dread, anticipation and a small worm sitting in your stomach reminding you that the D-Day is coming. I mean, come on…New Zealand. The one rugby team that is the very reason why Fiji has to play sevens rugby. It dosen’t matter whether other teams are getting better, or have won once or twice against us, and are going to face us in the next match. Nothing gets a fijian’s heart boiling like a showdown between us and “them“. I swear, every time there’s a match like that, the earth leans ever so slightly to one side because 905,949 people of the world’s population have stopped moving to cross their fingers (and their legs for a bowl or two) in the hopes that collective thought and mental urgency will give their team that extra boost to win.

So it was with much anticipation that on the Saturday of the game, i waited, mucking around the house, browsing online without really actually browsing (think of a soccer mum surfing 4chan) and waiting for the time when it would go down. At around 4pm I decided that a quick nap was in order, just so that I would be fresh and ready to make sure my neighbours could hear my hearty yell whenever Fiji scored.

And so I slept.

Right through the motherfucking game.

I missed it all. The beautiful 31-0, the lovely ass kicking, the cheering and screaming and joyous yelling that eminated from everyone’s mouths in Fiji, nay, from the very earth itself. I missed it all. How could I have missed that that that momentous occasion, that weekend defining moment, the whole reason to be fucking proud to be a damn fijian?

Note to self: No more late night World of Warcraft sessions on the night before or at that time for any sevens match involving Fiji against New Zealand.

Well…on the bright side we won against the country that refused to entertain our presence at the Wellington Games Parade because it started near their parliament. A smug victory indeed, and one that would have been far more smug had we won the Finals against Samoa. Which we didn’t.

God that was depressing. From an euphoric high after the victory against New Zealand, only to be taught a very nice lesson in humility and general all-round sharpness by Samoa. I could almost taste the bile that that little vile worm in my stomach had spat up, and sleep did not come easy.

Oh well. At least some people are calling this a political win over New Zealand. Kinda. Huh. Yeah. Fat chance that’ll do anything to allow our political leaders to become ‘friends‘ again