Earlier this year, we watched one of the Springboks tests at a sports bar, and one South African supporter spent the game telling us the All Blacks were cheats who never got called out. When the Boks won, he doubled down, saying it was about time we got what we deserved, and we’d “finally be humbled” at next year’s World Cup.
Our group laughed it off and got on with our day. After all, it’s just a game. Except, living so far from home, I’ve come to realise it’s more than that.
In New Zealand, it’s easy to take the All Blacks for granted, but the further from home you are, the more you understand the weight they carry. They’re not just a rugby team we’re proud of; for so many people around the world, they represent New Zealand itself.
They embody our hard work, commitment, skill and sense of family and community. They’re a shorthand for who we are, and they make us look good.
It’s why Ardie Savea’s moment during the Greatest Rivalry Tour, when he brought the team together to stand with former captain Sean Fitzpatrick, was so special. It’s why some South Africans seem to love the All Blacks almost as much as their own team, and why people abroad light up when you tell them where you’re from.
Their legacy follows us, which is probably why Kiwis have no problem following them around the world. This November, a bunch of us are heading to Edinburgh to watch the boys play. We’ll throw on our merch, grab a Guinness and cheer as loudly as we can. When I called my younger brother to tell him our plans, he was jealous. Properly jealous – quite an achievement since he’s 16 and emotions aren’t exactly forthcoming at that age. He said he couldn’t wait to come over and experience it himself one day.
I hope he does because I want him to experience what I’ve learned: how the All Blacks are much more than a national team. They’re a little piece of home that travels with you, from a conversation starter with strangers to a reason to gather with your people; a direct link between New Zealand and the rest of the world.
And if 2023 me, who interviewed a Barrett brother, could see me now, she’d probably be equal parts shocked and impressed that the All Blacks not only have a huge say in my weekends, but that their charm is alive and well.
