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Sir Graham Henry: This is not the Kiwi way – it’s time to back the All Blacks

Sir Graham Henry: This is not the Kiwi way - it's time to back the All Blacks

The All Blacks facing off against South Africa at Mbombela Stadium last week. Photo / www.photosport.nz

OPINION:

Legendary All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry issues a call to arms to reunite sports fans and back the All Blacks to fight back against South Africa.

Not so long ago, there was a lot of talk about the “team of five million” – Kiwis looking out for each other in the toughest depths of the Covid-19 pandemic. We pulled together in those challenging days and supported one another, and we were stronger for doing so. When Kiwis stand together, we achieve amazing things.

Tomorrow morning, on the other side of the world, 23 young Kiwis face one of the fiercest challenges of their lives. They’re a long way from home, away from their families, separated from the team of five million – I know from personal experience how isolated and adrift these young men will feel.

Some of the bitter criticism that has been thrown at the All Blacks lately will make them feel even further from home.

The players, the captain Sam Cane and their coach Ian Foster have been subjected to unfair, unkind vitriol. These guys are giving their all. The distasteful, mean-spirited tone of the criticism coming from our own people and aimed at our team has made me wonder: Whatever happened to the team of five million?

Sir GrahamHenry. Photo/Michael Craig
Sir GrahamHenry. Photo/Michael Craig

Whining and moaning? That’s not the Kiwi way – it’s embarrassing; and it’s not how we want the rest of the world to see us.

The young men who will represent us tomorrow need to know that we stand with them. From their point of view, it can feel like there’s no support – I know that’s not true, and I believe deep down you know it, too.

These All Blacks face a Bok blitzkrieg like none that has come before: This is the best Springbok team I have ever seen – and I was there at Lancaster Park in 1956, so I’ve seen a few!

Right now, the All Blacks are rebuilding, while the Boks are at their best. The brilliant Siya Kolisi leads a very mature side – they are worthy world champions who play with focused intensity and the ability to reset the game to suit their strengths and negate those of their opponents.

Nevertheless, the All Blacks can win. But to do so, they need to know we stand with them.

True sports fans stand with their side in fair weather and foul. For more than a century, All Blacks fans have been lucky to experience more sunshine than gloom. But dark days are here right now. And in challenging times you must stand together if you’re going to stand tall.

So, come on New Zealand – get behind the 23 men in black! We’re a team of five million, not 4,999,977.

I’ve been in touch with the team and told them they have my full support – I’m sure all true All Blacks supporters will do the same thing in their own way.

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Categories
Business

City chief: Market Square ‘a feasting sore’

City chief: Market Square 'a feasting sore'

Market Square UK 2022Geelong’s Market Square shopping center and Busport transport interchange have been described as “festering sores” in an extraordinary speech by the City of Greater Geelong’s highest ranking officer.

The outburst took many city councillors by surprise, with a source telling Geelong Broadcasters the CEO’s frank comments were certain to be discussed at tonight’s scheduled meeting.

Martin Cutter’s address to a business luncheon last week included criticisms of what he views as the city’s dependence on cars at the expense of “active transport” options such as bicycles.

According to the Geelong Advertiser Mr Cutter, who will finish up next month after cutting his contract short, laid bare his intense dislike for the bus exchange.

“I hate it. I think we all hate it,” he reportedly said.

“It needs to go, it needs to be shifted – it needs to be improved.”

Martin Cutter credit CoGGCouncilor Eddy Kontelj told Geelong Broadcasters he agreed that the bus terminal was problematic.

“We should be doing something about it and the state government should be doing something about it,” Cr Kontelj said.

“I just wish that Martin had used his voice earlier on to express the concerns that we have around that issue.”

Cr Kontelj was more guarded about his thoughts on the privately-owned Market Square, saying the city needed to be “in the tent” with the facility’s owners and trying to forge a way forward.

“What we can’t do is be just throwing blows through the media. What we need to be doing is working with the owners of the property to try and find a solution.”

Mr Cutter pointed to Melbourne’s Emporium as an example of what shopping center improvements can achieve.

“It’s easy for me to say, I don’t have the investment funds, council doesn’t have the investment funds, but it’s not working, something needs to be done in the area to lift that,” he told the event, which was hosted by the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

He also took aim at overwhelming criticism of the city’s controversial bike lanes.

“We all have an opinion about bike lanes. We can all be critical about the way they look and what they do, but if we’re going to make Geelong different we need to invest in active transport.

“We can’t keep making more roads, it will not fix what our problems are – it’s about being visionary, about looking to the future and deciding what we want Geelong to look like and not just asking for more cars to come into the center of the city.”

Mr Cutter announced his resignation in early July, saying he wanted to focus on ‘personal pursuits’ and spend time with his family.

Image: (top) Market Square [Geelong Broadcasters]; (middle) outgoing CoGG CEO Martin Cutter (City of Greater Geelong)

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