Fan boying over the Ferns
Sport Review #243
No shortage of distractions come at you in a world cup lead up, but nothing beats an amazing story unfolding in front of you. And a big crowd there to roar it on.
The best bits of the Black Ferns’ world cup came at the end, in the semi and final - this world cup may have had its best bit already (but I certainly hope not).
You’re always a bit nervy about logistics in situations like this, with New Zealand’s biggest crowd potentially happening in game one, right in the teething issues sweet spot. But everything worked seamlessly, we were whisked off the Constellation station platform straight to Eden Park after 20 minutes or so, got in a short queue and swiped a party of six through with the FIFA app no worries, before taking advantage of the shorter queue at the vegetarian option. Easy.
Eden Park looked amazing, decked out in the standard neutral / colourful colourways that go with modern world cups of any flavour.
Weren’t we amazing? All I knew about Norway was that they were good, really good, but we started well and kept getting better. Everyone was full of running, the blocks were solid and the passes were sticking. Going by our group, these players are set to become household names, introducing themselves to first time Ferns enjoyers just by being brilliant and going hard at Norway from the start. Bowen, Riley, Stott, Bott… hell, they were *all* brilliant.
Arguably, my main fail was missing the goal.
Dispatched for hot chocolates to warm up in the stiff breeze at the back of the west stand, I was watching on the big screens through the gap in the stands when Hannah Wilkinson wrote her name into history. Don’t worry, I’ve watched that sweeping, perfect move about 200 times since, and will a few more times yet.
I’ve been lucky enough through my work to occasionally watch the Ferns’ training camp sessions. Seeing the work the group put into their fitness, link up play and team culture up close, a night like last night is testament to their thorough preparation and belief.
There was a great little moment telling my daughter and her friend, an excellent young footballer, that the amazing Malia Steinmetz had played for Forrest Hill Milford (now Northern Rovers), where they’d both played.
They way the team just seemed to melt into tears and hugs, led by coach Jitka’s crushing relief at the at the final whistle was immense. To reiterate, the idea is that the world cup spectacle will make football stick as sport for girls and women to play and get involved with for life. That was a strong possibility before, and with performances like that, it’s even more likely.
We’re in unchartered territory already and there’s only been a couple of games. With More Of This Kind Of Thing and matches every night on our tellies for the next few weeks, these are the best times to be a fan and to get involved. We’ve been awarded an absurd amount of matches for this world cup, and the tickets are priced to sell. I recommend getting the family and getting along.
And we didn’t even get rained on.
Thanks for reading - Richard
This week's best NZ sport content
Toby Manhire lays out the context and captures the emotion of the Ferns’ win and Eden Park crowd, Suzanne McFadden was at the Fan Festival at the start of a scary Auckland morning and ends it talking to the team, while Andrew Voerman has the match report [Spinoff, Locker Room, Stuff]
This extract from Dylan Cleaver’s Carl Hayman biography reveals professional rugby teams’ drinking culture is pretty much the same as any weekend warrior social sport team, only on steroids [Newsroom]
Dana Johannsen has the story of pole vaulting coach Jeremy McColl’s rise and fall [Stuff]
They’re here, they’re actually here - the world’s most iconic women’s sporting team training about 4k’s up the road takes a bit of getting used to. They’re meeting kids! And massively upgrading facilities! [Crowd Goes Wild]
Heather Dawson is upset that Auckland once again gets the international cricket crumbs, while Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and the blessed Mount Maunganui get the chocolate. Simply, they have vastly better cricket grounds, while Auckland has a Bermuda triangle of dithering, inertia and woe. When will it end? [Sportsfreak]
Among a typically thorough Detail look a uniform purpose and design, Suzanne McFadden contrasts the thought process and reaction to the Silver Ferns and All Blacks’ playing strips [RNZ]
Is it an upset if the world #1 wins? My boy Carlos Alcaraz got up against dickweed Novak at Wimbledon - here’s an extremely thorough and nerdy analysis of the final, full of tips you can go try and fail at at the local club [Hugh Clarke]
Thanks to reader Ben for submitting a Sarah Walker Switch It Off campaign example from Rotorua Golf Club.
Video nasty
Slimby.
Long read
The GOAT Dave Grann with the story of a Guatemalan murder that was seen coming a long way out [New Yorker]
Recommendation
I’ve been binging the Who Shat On The Floor At Our Wedding podcast - the crime and the detective we need in these grim times.