Sing for All Blacks says Idol judge

NZ Idol judge Frankie Stevens says local crowds are short on voice and ideas. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

Veteran entertainer Frankie Stevens says New Zealanders will never sing like the Welsh do but need to break out in song when the All Blacks play the Wallabies at Eden Park on Saturday.

The former New Zealand Idol judge lamented the fact that while travelling British fans, the Barmy Army, could muster up ditties for the Australians like "You all live in a convict colony" sung to the Beatles tune Yellow Submarine local crowds were often short on voice and ideas.

"Let's face it, we're never going to be singing like the Welsh at Cardiff Arms Park," said Stevens.

"But there is no excuse if you're going to a game with your mates - you should be singing your heart out in support of your team, who cares what people think," he said.

Stevens said New Zealanders were not lacking in passion but were probably afraid to show it.

"We tend to be a bit more withdrawn and more conscious about what people are thinking about us rather than just thinking 'let's enjoy ourselves'."

Comedian and co-leader of the Bill and Ben Party, Jamie [Bill] Linehan agreed New Zealand was among the most "lacklustre nations on earth" in supporting their teams.

"I think 'Gregan's a ******' was the most advanced chant or song we have ever produced," he said.

"Then again we had the great Waikato chant 'Mooloo ole ole ole' and we stole that from the Yarpies [South Africans] ... being from Te Awamutu it was like finding out that Santa Claus wasn't real."

Asked what songs would inspire the All Blacks to victory, Mr Linehan said he would probably rework the lyrics to the 1980s Canterbury rugby song Give it a boot Robbie to Give Robbie the boot.

"But at best we are probably only going to get half the nation to sing along with that, aren't we?"

Sir Howard Morrison said it was people's "personal choice" whether they sing or not.

"But I did hear Pokarekare Ana during the test against Italy and that is our national song, I think it resonates a bit of nationalism whether you are Maori or Pakeha."

A spokesman for Wellington Phoenix supporters club, the Yellow Fever, said chants, songs and clever sledging of the opposition was a part of football culture that had been embraced by a hard core of about 5000 Phoenix fans.

He believed the support lifted his team but doubted whether even the All Blacks would conjure such passion.

"Unfortunately you can't manufacture that kind of vocal support," said Yellow Fever spokesman David Cross.

"The people we have want to do it and are willing to make fools of themselves and believe in it.

"For [rugby] people who go along it's not what they're conditioned to do whereas a football crowd have a mentality that doing that and getting behind the team vocally is just what you do and they love it."

Mr Cross said the group have about 15 songs and chants.

He said while Brazilian Phoenix import Fred got onside last year with I see Fred a mock version of Split Enz's I See Red, soccer superstar David Beckham felt their wrath as the fever sang Victoria (what do you want from him?) whenever he was on the ball.