the game

"Don't hate the player, hate the game
Niggas, sharpen your aim
Every baller on the streets is searchin' fortune and fame
Some come up, some get done up, except the twist
If you out for mega cheddar, you got to go high risk"
- Ice T

"We asked the NZ Rugby Union for the All Blacks to come to Samoa...
and they sent the Junior All Blacks
and so, we asked again...
and they sent the Maori all Blacks...
and then we asked again...
If only we had known that we needed only to ask John Campbell..."
- Samoa PM Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, in his welcoming speech to the All Black team. 

It was like watching a storm coming…black clouds gathering, and a change in the air- but frankly bugger all was happening that you could put your finger on…right up until the moment it struck.

By the time the All Blacks moseyed into their official welcome in front of Government house on Tuesday, clad in thongs, lavalava’s - with a gentle waft of ‘vincibility’ about them- they’d realised the importance of a simple footy game to a nation. 

Frankly- Samoa went a bit mental. 

Last time the AB’s played the Manu, some 7 years ago in NZ, records were set...not good ones. This time would different - as Manu captain Ofisa Treviranus, dubbed the ‘peoples captain’- probably said…

It was hard to tell, because I speak about as much Samoan as I do French- but I caught the words, taumafai (try), malosi (strength), Atua (god), tagata (people) and taeao (tomorrow)…apparently someone was going to try very hard to do something tomorrow with the help of God and the people…

Even if you missed that much- you couldn’t miss Ofisa’s stirring tone- which began quietly and humbly, and built until it sounded like he was addressing a column of Roman soldiers who’d found themselves inconveniently deeper into Persian enemy territory than they’d anticipated, & wearing skirts.

Game time came and went- and you saw the result (or you’re reading the wrong blog)…

But, for a week around the country, banners and flags, body paint and wigs availed every available surface- there wasn’t a fale, post, car, car-like object, cripple, nipple, pet or coconut in the country which wasn’t black and blue…

Sole- "How should we decorate?"

Sunga- "mmmm...so we’ve got fabric, paints and 5000 acres of coconut trees..."

Thousands of stacked "rugby balls" lined every major road...inventive, edible, creative (but fairly painful if you try to punt one for touch).

Real sportsmanship is greeting a foreign, and very likely to be victorious, sports team not with jeers and shouts- but with quite sincere marriage proposals and signs bearing lovingly contrary slogans like "We love the Manu & God Bless the All Blacks"...

"Nothing is impossible with God" cried banners for the Manu...and while it seemed like highly optimistic faith initially, the outcome in terms of not just the game- but the entire week long event, proved it aspirationally accurate...

Economically- it’s unlikely any major trade deals were struck, but the simple effect of impressing and welcoming a bunch of rugby mad Kiwi’s who might otherwise have spent their Winter break in Denerau or Rarotonga can only be positive.

Logistically- complaints of ticket availability and affordable pricing faded and all but disappeared by the time the game came. Crowds peacefully and cheerfully went absolutely apesh*t for their teams whether at the game, at a bunch of pubs, at home in their fales and at the big screen event in central Apia. Every event was tremendously, if mysteriously, well organised. 

Politically- the PM and head of the SRU brushed off criticism of his management and involvement (in simply everything)- to drag his not insubstantial self up a yet higher pedestal.

Spiritually- Samoa’s faith was stirred, tried and rewarded. 

Nationally and fundamentally- The tagata o Samoa again redefined their independence, determination and reputation for extraordinary hospitality

…it’s hard to imagine more successful outcome, and it was a privilege to be here to witness it all.

My player of the day awards to:

John Campbell for being a journalistic dog with a bone; 

'the man from Putaruru' who found time to share a beer despite a hectic AB schedule and who hooked us up with great tickets; 

and especially to my Mum for being here to share it all with me.