Showing maturity

To the unforgiving rugby public get over it.
Rugby is a game.
Blame serves no purpose, although the referee's lack in two areas will always be cited in some quarters for the All Black's loss in the quarter-final of the World Cup against France at Cardiff.
A social commentator vented his spleen on Sunday radio and called us a 'dumb rugby nation'.
His vitriol was unpalatable. Yet children throughout the country are staying staunch and standing by their heroes and role models. Last week young William Arnold of Eltham stood at the head of the queue for an hour and 40 minutes to meet his rugby hero Tana Umaga. William was inspired by Tana's story. It gave him hope.
In the maelstrom of the All Black's loss at the weekend, adults have displayed dysfunctional behaviours.
Without doubt the boys in black will feel worse than the collective national psyche which sank headlong into depression after the loss.
The boys were down and out, and in went the boot. Down came the flags and signs of support. A Canterbury farmer rolled flat an old car in an act of frustration.
Is this how we treat people who lose a match? Don't families stand by their own at a time when they're most needed to salve the pain?
We're a nation with a high incidence of domestic violence and behaviours that have been displayed are symptomatic of a nation that has to get a grip and show some fortitude.
Often we hear the phrase 'acting like kids in kindergarten'. But here we see adults throwing their toys out of the cot because we lost a game of rugby.
It's a long flight home and the boys return to New Zealand today. "We'll be fronting up," said captain Richie Macaw. They're someone's son, husband, father and partner. Let's hope we front up to welcome them with open arms and hearts.