World Cup blog: Rivalry should be tempered with good sportsmanship

France's manager has been a good sport in allowing New Zealand to play in black this weekend. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Not wanting to watch a game of rugby is hardly an unfamiliar concept to me, but it was for a different reason than usual that I kept scurrying from the living room last Sunday night.

I don't know how all you All Blacks fans have been doing it all these years. Now that I've invested some time into learning how it all works I found myself a nervous wreck.

Still, I was in front of the television for kick-off and, while I'd like to think I'm not the sort to laugh at other's misfortunes, I couldn't help feeling a tad elated as Quade Cooper's first contact with the ball saw it sail out on the full.

I cheered as Israel Dagg pulled off a stunning run to set up our first — and, it would transpire, the match's only — try. Flicked to Ma'a Nonu to ground at the last second, it was impossible not not admire the brilliant support play going on. We were 10 minutes in and everything was looking rosy.

But then there was a failed conversion attempt, a penalty kick which cruelly hit the posts and another penalty — this time against the All Blacks — which Australia's James O'Connor booted cleanly between the sticks. Suddenly there were just two points separating us from our Transtasman neighbours and it all felt a bit close for comfort.

I'm ashamed to admit it now, but when Piri Weepu missed yet another penalty kick, I slunk out of the room. I guess I just couldn't handle the pressure.

I didn't go far mind. I was still able to keep half an eye on the TV and my nerves did start to subside a little following Aaron Cruden's successful dropgoal. Still, I wanted more.

Being two converted tries ahead of the Aussies would be a comfortable buffer, I said to my husband.

"Mmmm," he replied, nodding slightly. Which I took to mean: "Would you please cease your running commentary of this game you've only recently started watching."

That's the problem though, I can't.

It's as if I'm trying to make up for three decades of wilfully ignoring rugby by suddenly having an opinion on everything game-related.

In this last week I've caught myself posturing on defensive play and passing skills, press conference behaviour and IRB regulations, playing kits and betting odds. I must, I've thought occasionally, sound like a crashing bore.

But here's the thing. With the exception of my husband while a game is actually being played, I've been encouraged. Rugby is all anyone seems to be talking about.

This, of course, is not new. It's just that I'm on the other side of the fence now. That old adage of 'if you can't beat them, join them', has never rung truer.

And it's not just me. I've had two conversations about rugby over the past week with friends who, like me, would rather have spent the evening cleaning the bathroom than watch the rugby just a few short weeks ago.

One, a Welshman, recounted his anguish at his team's semi-final loss to France. He'd never watched a game in his life before this tournament started but as the Dragons advanced through the stages he was caught up in the fervour.

"I know they lost," he told me, "but I'm feeling strangely patriotic for the first time in ages."

I think this gets to the heart of what I've enjoyed so much about the last few weeks.

I feel proud of New Zealand for putting on such a great event and for welcoming the competing nations so warmly. People have been talking to strangers on the streets and gathering to watch games together. It's promoted community and friendship.

Not even the largely inclement Auckland weather has been able to kill the mood.

It helps, obviously, that the All Blacks have made the final, but I'd like to think that, whatever happens this Sunday, we will continue to be gracious hosts.

France's manager has been a good sport in allowing New Zealand to play in black this weekend and in that vein, I plan on humming along to La Marseillaise prior to kick-off.

I'll sing our national anthem louder though and hope we can end this tournament victorious.

Go the All Blacks!