The Book of Farm Girl
Born in a tent in a paddock, Farmgirl represents the Aussie office of the Perihelion.
On Sunday, 16, November 2003 Farm Girl wrote...
null 3:41AM
i am soooo sad. poo to the all blacks :( what happened??? we should have won. :
rugby world cup 2003 article 11:15AM
Semi final loss a bitter pill for All Blacks fans
16/11/2003
By Matt Porter
The shrill blast of referee Chris White's final whistle masked the sound of breaking New Zealand hearts all around Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Saturday night.
Another Rugby World Cup semi final, another crushing failure by a red hot favourite All Black team.
The Wallabies out All Blacked the All Blacks with a comprehensive display of running rugby, undying commitment at the breakdown and a smothering defence to dash the hopes of a fiercely passionate rugby nation.
Pockets of stony faced New Zealanders at the game were forced to endure the mass celebration of yet another Wallaby victory against the odds when it really counted.
Returning from another of rugby's showpiece without the Webb Ellis is akin to a death in the family to rugby mad New Zealanders.
To not even make the final, for two successive RWCs, is a disaster that will cast a pall over the nation for a long time to come.
Long road to redemption
Any chance of RWC redemption is four, excruciatingly long years away. An eternity to kiwis who last savoured RWC success way back when in 1987.
Indeed there could well be All Blacks contesting the 2007 Tournament in France not even born the last time New Zealand were crowned World Champions.
With nowhere to hide after last night's game, disconsolate fans in black were seen milling about the outskirts of the monstrous Telstra Stadium in varying states of shock as the delirious Wallaby fans partied about them.
The conquered sought solace amongst one another. Complete strangers sought out fellow heavy hearts adorned with silver ferns to hug, hold or just to talk.
Misery likes company.
Their shot at glory dashed, the New Zealanders will now play the third and fourth play off this Thursday against the loser from tonight's semi final between England and France.
Blockbusting number 8 Jerry Collins promised All Black fans the team will throw its all into the match.
He told the All Blacks' official website that although the 'dream is over' he personally will 'front up' for the match which must not have figured in their Tournament plans.
Returning empty handed
At least the play off for bronze will postpone the return home for the New Zealand players.
The team that last lost a RWC semi final, to France in 1999, was savaged by their unforgiving media and public for several weeks after the Tournament.
Later New Zealanders examined their outcry and the conclusion was reached that the nation has an unhealthy obsession with the game that needed to be put in context.
That experience may prove to soften the landing of this All Black team's fall from grace.
But they are still in for a tough time.
For the Wallabies, they have a chance to make history as the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup for the third time in this Saturday's final.
Regardless of whether they go all the way, they have assured themselves bragging rights over their trans Tasman cousins for at least another four years.