Highlanders

If you took the excitement of a close IU-Purdue basketball game at Assembly Hall, the determination of the stalwart fans on a particularly cold Sunday on the frozen tundra of Lambeau, and a healthy dose of the bleacher section at Wrigley Field on a hot summer day (after several Old Styles) you still would not come close to the devotion of the average Kiwi to Rugby.

On Saturday, Molly and I attended out first rugby game: the Highlanders versus Waratahs.  The Highlanders' home base is Dunedin's new Forsyth Barr Stadium, built for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.  Australia's Waratahs were the second team to take on the local lads who came in to the game with a 2-0 record.  We had exceptionally good seats along the goal line. According to one of my colleagues, in Dunedin you have two favorite teams: the Highlanders and whoever is playing against an Australian team.

I won't go into the rules of rugby or how the teams are set up because I don't understand it and, apparently, most Kiwis don't understand it either--at least not all of it.  However, they did let me in with my camera, I did not have to go through security, and they gave away free stuff (like the flags you see in the pics below) to the kids.  Peyton who?

The Columba College cheering section

The Zoo.  

This is where the young/drunk/mentally deranged sit. The music is non-stop.

Would you expect a team called the Highlanders to be without marching bagpipers?  I should say not.

This is not the Highlanders mascot but the Oceana Gold Nuggets (basketball) mascot.  Kind of like seeing the Phillie Phanatic at a Lions game, but hey, its New Zealand!

I call them the Blue Woman Group.  They dance in front of the Zoo during the entire game--except when making fun of the opposing team during warm up.

Oh, yeah--there was a game too!  Here are some highlights:

The Waratahs took the lead early with a couple of penalty kicks (worth 3 points each)

During a "line out" the ball is thrown in bounds.  The teams literally hurl teammates in the air to capture the ball.

This is not a game for the timid.  We did see one Waratah score a try (5 points) but got his leg broken in the process.  No, really. 

Here is Highlander Aaron Smith scoring a try.  Don't know why they call it a "try." It should be a "succeed." (Caveat: I pulled this pic off the internet--my pics aren't that good).

After the game, the Highlanders come to the stands and thank the fans, particularly the kids.  Molly had her Highlanders shirt signed by Hosea Gear.  Mr. Gear is also a member of the New Zealand national team the All Blacks and is quite a sports hero.

You can see highlights (including the broken leg) here.  The Highlanders won the match 18-17 and are now 3-0 in Super Rugby.