Did you Have tears in your eyes

and at random points during the game and the last 10mins. Pretty damn cool we managed to shake the camera

I'm a proud r*gby hater and I'm elated that this qualification will result in a whole lot more football coverage than we've seen for ages. R*gby's self-appointed media monopoly is well and truly under threat and I for one bloody love the thought.

yup,,,,must admit to the odd tear or two. Funny thing is even today watching the highlights on Sky and some of the video clips I still get emotional.

Creating a 'us v them' mentality doesn't help anyone. Same thing happened in Aussie - it's disappointing to see though I must admit i've been guilty of it at times as well. Many, many people support both sports.

Lets be honest - rugby will never be knocked off it's perch. I just want both sports to be given an equally fair go in the media etc.
valeo2009-11-16 14:10:35

It only turns people off football to play at their game like that. Im pretty sure any momentum gained from this win will be easily lost by making it about 'us vs them'

Yep, same here... and at the final whistle, as did the wife! we just hugged and bounced, just couldnt believe it... passion, that's what it is!

Made me proud to be a kiwi, for once!

edit: ps. its hard not to get on 'them vs us' when I crew up hearing "soccer is girls games"

I am proud as a kiwi that i have never seen a full rugby game and never been to one!
han3082009-11-16 14:50:46

I went to the Wellington Rugby Union awards night dinner last Friday (invited by a rugby mad mate) - the awards were focused on club rugby - not just players but coaches, volunteer administrators, and supporters. What struck me was the passion people at the grass roots had for their game. I would add that the MCs concluding comment for the evening was to wish the All Whites well for the game the following night.

I knew I'd take some flack, and fair enough. I think if I'm honest with myself as I've aged I've actually stopped hating rugby; now I just ignore it. I don't think I've ever thought of it as "us against them", all I've ever wanted is a fair deal for the game I love and aside from a few short months in 81-82, during my lifetime that fair deal has been absent. TheJam2009-11-16 15:10:18

Got to be honest, I didn't. At all. Couldn't stop smiling and hugging people.... hugging anyone. And screaming at people.

Best night ever.

I agree with all of that, just pointing out that rugby supporters and football supporters are often one in the same in NZ.

Didn't cry at all.  Grinning from ear to ear, hugged a few people.  Somebody I've never met slapped my sunburn so I turned around and hugged him tightly so as to keep myself from swatting him.  Lost my voice, though not as badly as at Phoenix games so was able to talk properly by lunchtime the next day.

Such a great time.  Best weekend of my life thus far.

Really getting pissed off how some of the impact of our great day has been highjacked into " what does this mean for rugby"

The Fever Zone was mental, shirtless (mainly) man (mainly) love everywhere and a few just standing stunned or crying, then just when it died down a little someone else would appear from another corner and lunge at you.

I have season tickets to Rugby and the Phoenix

Love Rugby - when i'ts good - but don't like the lack of atmosphere and the chants played over the speaker syetem. Also get annoyed with stop start nature of the game and "water boys" constantly on the pitch

But football is my passion - no manufactured "atmosphere", and a great bunch of supporters. But let's be honest football can be dull too on occasions

Now is the time for football to stand up and be counted and an equal to Rugby in this country

I also get annoyed by comparisons to rugby recently, but i was amused that the paper yesterday was talking about how awesome football is and the atmosphere, then on the next page talking about how boring the ABs vs Italy was.

Am keen to see if this impacts Phoenix crowds, though our next home game isn't for a while.

I'm English and have lived in New Zealand for just four years but that was the longest final 10 minutes of my entire life. I have never felt the sheer relief of that final whistle before ever. Only time I could relate that too was the Beckham free kick against Greece but even thats debatable.

I'll be going to South Africa. I'll be cheering on the White Noise. I cant wait. Love this little country and I loved that game. Good to see a decent support for the Phoenix too.

So what does this victory mean for Rugby?

Was that because your t!ts were freezing?

death

You may not believe this.....there was a gent sitting behind me who tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to sit down....which I politely did....until Paston made the save....I have shed some tears for that gent since..."Breathes there a man with soul so dead..." (With apologies to Sir Walter Scott)

I got sick and tired of the people behind us telling me and my brothers to sit down. I reminded them politely that it wasnt a bloody rugby match.

And then when Fallon scored.. i turned around and said "sit the f**k down now why dont ya!"

So we went down to a nice little ledge where we wouldnt be annoying people if we stood up, and security told us to go back to our seats after about 10 mins. Gutted.

I dont know why i paid for the whole seat in the second half, i spent most of it sitting on the edge.

But after Paston's save, i couldn't care less about them. If they wanted to see the match, they could bloody well show support and stand up too.

What an awesome experiece. Ill never forget Saturday night

Tegal2009-11-16 22:44:01

goldienz,were you in the white noise zone or general seats? If in general seats its fair enough that you were told to sit down,not everyone wanted to stand the entire 90mins,there is a seperate zone set up for if you want to do that.

i was in the general seating too and me and my mate were standing up. got yelled abuse and even punched a few times. then a steward came over and threatened to eject us if we didnt sit down. We were quite next to the Bahranians and they were standing up and going mental and dancing etc (great fans they were by the way)

I was quite annoyed. Although all was forgotten after the goal and the second half.

Fair point. But i was too late for the white noise tickets (my fault i know) I tried to move somewhere to be more considerate, but was told to go back.

And who's gonna sit down when we score a goal?!?

Yep agree with this. I was getting right into the game and was asked by an older chap behind me to sit down. A bit miffed but it was aisle 25 not WN so he was perfectly entitled to expect a reasonable view other than my back.

Of course towards the end pretty much everyone was standing up so it didn't matter.

It's fine standing up when we score, when Paston saved the pen etc. but if you stand up all game in the non-white noise/YF zone then you can't really complain when you get told to sit down. Not everyone can stand for the whole game - disabilities/older people get sore/kids can't see etc. Not their fault you were too late to get a WN ticket
valeo2009-11-16 22:54:21

Didn't stand up for the whole match.. only during the really tense and exciting bits. Agree old / disabilities can't stand. Maybe they should have made the WN zone BIGGER!

Would have happuily swapped my seat for someone wanting to sit down all the time.

Not just those with disablities,but those who just dont want to stand for 90mins,or even for a majority of the game. Id say itd be the equivalent of holding a banner in front of someones face in the WNZ during the game. Sure jump up and cheer a goal etc,but if your told to sit down during general play,you dont really have a right to argue.

Fair points. Next time i'll just have to get better organised quicker

good to see shirts off all around the ground tho

Thanks for that! The fans infront of me were standing and nicely said, "if ya cant see let us know and we'll sit down." but I could see enough so let them be. normally i'd ask them to sit...

never hi-5'd and hugged so many random people in such a short amount of time.

no tears in my eyes but such jubilation and excitement...not too mention a beer shampoo, body wash and even a plastic bottle to the bak of the head...lol