New Zealand’s turn to be transtasman world-beater

RIGHT MESSAGE: Support for the All Blacks will take many forms leading up to and during the Rugby World Cup decider Sunday morning our time. This stark message was woven into the strands of a fence alongside the Langford-Fallon reserve cycle track. Rae Hannah and her husband Kevin did the deed and its message is clear. The material used in the creation is bark from an Australian eucalyptus tree. Let's hope the ABs will weave their own piece of history. Picture supplied

Opinion

A WEEK of steadily mounting tension reaches its zenith at 5am tomorrow when New Zealand meets Australia in the final of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

It will be the third time the two nations have met in a world final this year, with Australia taking honours in the cricket and netball.

The importance of rugby to the New Zealand psyche, while often criticised, remains high and many Kiwis hate to lose to Australia more than any other opponent.

Indeed a big part of the tension (some have even said they cannot bear to watch) relates to this country’s relationship with our nearest neighbour across the Tasman — a classic love-hate relationship if ever there was one.

As if any more ginger needed to be added to the situation, the final comes at a time when transtasman relations are just a little rocky.

The Australian government’s treatment of New Zealanders with criminal convictions, some of whom have been sent to Christmas Island, has created resentment.

There is also a general feeling that New Zealand teams in Australian competitions do not get the rub of the green. The latest example is the decision of Australian football’s governing body not to grant the Wellington Phoenix a 10-year extension to their licence (all nine Australian clubs are licensed until 2034).

The Australians have not helped things with their build-up to the final. Things like the Richettygrub cartoon, which portrays Richie McCaw as an insect standing in the way of a glorious Australian victory, and the tactical refusal to refer to our team as the All Blacks, have added a little fuel to the fire if any was needed.

Maybe it is time to take a deep breath and remember that an estimated 650,000 New Zealanders, 15 percent of the population, live in Australia and that 100 years ago young men from the two countries stormed a beach in Gallipoli.

In any case you can run off your frustrations or celebrate victory just a little later on Sunday morning by taking part in the Gisborne Herald quarter marathon fun run and walk.