- The All Blacks, after several complicated years, have the possibility of winning a fourth World Cup this Saturday (9 p.m.) at the Stade de France, after 1987, 2011 and 2015. The final will pit them against their eternal South African rivals, who are also aiming for a fourth coronation.
- A success for the New Zealanders would give a boost to rugby in a country where its status as the king of sports is beginning to be contested, especially among the younger generations.
- Covid-19 has worsened the problems that were already affecting the discipline before the pandemic.
” Fluctuat NEC mergitur. » The motto of the City of Paris could become that of the All Blacks, who are aiming for a fourth World Cup victory. A record that their best enemies Springboks also covet, this Saturday at the Stade de France. Since Japan’s World Cup semi-final elimination against England four years ago, the New Zealand boat has often been beaten by the waves, and his coach Ian Foster could have gone overboard several times. But he didn’t sink.
This summer again, the most famous rugby team in the universe conceded the heaviest defeat in its prestigious history, at Twickenham against the South Africans (35-7), before give in against the XV of France at the opening of the World Cup (27-13). So what ? Since then, the Barrett triplet and their colleagues have ramped up nicely.
This Saturday, they will raise high the colors of their small country of around 5 million inhabitants, of which they are the flagship even in the (many) countries which ignore the subtleties of the oval. “The All Blacks are a religion,” says Jack Whetton, the 2nd row of Colomiers, in Pro D2. Everyone in the country will be standing to watch them [il sera 8 heures dimanche à Wellington au coup d’envoi]. »
The 31-year-old Kiwi knows what he is talking about, beyond his experience and that of his brother William (passed through Castres and Brive): his father Gary and his uncle Alan, world champions in 1987, are among the legends of the discipline. However, times have changed since the first edition of the World Cup and this amateur era where roughly speaking, we handled the oval ball in winter, and the cricket bat in summer.
Stadiums far from being full
“Rugby remains the national sport, inseparable from the identity of the country, but it is undeniable that it has taken a beating in recent years,” admits Ian Borthwick, French-New Zealand journalist and writer, author of several reference works on the All Blacks. The number of licensees fell a little, there was also a slump in the national team. The rugby fan is sometimes fickle. The defeat at Twickenham shocked many people, as did losing the opening match. But since then, people have seen that the Blacks are on an upward slope and the whole country is behind them. »
Yes, the heirs of “Buck” Shelford, Jonah Lomu, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw retain a special place in the heart of a nation of which they are the pride. However, behind the very pretty window, the back room is more gloomy. “The stadiums are always full for the Blacks, but this is not the case for other competitions,” observes Jack Whetton. Tickets are very expensive, and it’s not the same mentality compared to France where the supporters are the best in the world. They are amazing and travel a lot, I’ve never experienced that anywhere else. »
A globe-trotter who also passed through England, the current Columérin was well acquainted with certain bare stadiums of Super Rugby, which he played in the 2010s with Australian franchises (Brumbies and Waratahs) and “neo-z” (Highlanders ). The spectacular competition, which was “the laboratory of world rugby” (in the words of Ian Borthwick) during the advent of professionalism in the mid-1990s, has lost its prestige over the decades, and the episode of Covid-19 has not helped matters. Today, the Kiwi provinces, the Christchurch-based Crusaders in the leadcrush the Australian and Polynesian competition (Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika) with relative indifference…
“We no longer play South Africans [désormais alignés dans les compétitions européennes] and the Argentines, laments Whetton. Things are improving, but it’s no longer the Super Rugby of five years ago. » Covid-19, again, hurt the already fragile finances of the Federation, which engaged in a long standoff with its base, which however ended by validating the agreement with Silver Lake in June 2022 : 200 million New Zealand dollars (around 110 million euros) paid by the American investment fund in exchange for a participation in the juicy commercial revenues of the All Blacks brand.
A concern among young people
The NPC, the local provincial championship supposed to feed Super Rugby and therefore the All Blacks, is also suffering, like the youth teams. This is logically reflected in the Baby Blacks, whose sixth and last world title among the U20s (category record) dates back to 2017, before the advent des Bleuets who torpedoed them this summer (35-14).
“Rugby no longer has as strong a hold on the New Zealand population as in the past, particularly among young people,” says Kimberlee Downs, who covers the World Cup for the public channel TVNZ. We see that historically very popular clubs are now having difficulty fielding teams in all age categories. Several factors can explain this: other sports are gaining ground and parents are more concerned today about the risks of concussions. So, even if part of the population still considers rugby as a religion, it is no longer obvious for young people to turn to this practice. »
Present in the land of the long white cloud since September 2022, Breton Syprien Féat brings his expatriate perspective. “I don’t have the impression of great fervor as there may be in France for the Football World Cup, or as there seems to be for this Rugby World Cup,” observes the 35-year-old from Finistère, who is frothing the two main islands aboard his van. That said, despite the time difference, there are quite a few Kiwis who watch the matches in bars while having breakfast. For the semi-final against Argentina in Wellington [44-6], all the tables in the establishment where I was were reserved. There must have been 60 or 70 people. Well, a few left at half-time, because the score was certain. »
Like the TVNZ journalist, Syprien saw that the locals were also keen on rugby league, netball (basketball’s cousin, mainly women’s) and even MMA fights. And if he planned to stay in Auckland, the largest city in the country, after having competed in the marathon there on Sunday, the thirty-year-old was a little disillusioned: “I was planning to stay one or two days more in the event of a world title but I I don’t know in the end. I was told there wouldn’t necessarily be huge celebrations. »
Especially if the finale turns into a purge. “If you propose a match like the England – South Africa semi-final (15-16), you won’t have anyone in a New Zealand stadium, notes Ian Borthwick. It’s like in Australia or other countries, and different from France. You cannot base rugby on a static game, based on scrums. You have to put on a certain show to get, as they say, “asses in seats.” »
The All Blacks can join the Black Ferns
Be careful, however, not to paint the situation completely black, without bad puns. No need to remind that captain Sam Cane’s team is playing a World Cup final this Saturday, to win a third title in four editions, after 2011 and 2015, and to return to the roof of the world where their female counterparts have been enthroned since 2017 , the Black Ferns.
Above all, beyond the titles, rugby remains tattooed in the soul of New Zealanders, whether they are Maori or Pakehas (White). “You find land almost everywhere,” relates the Frenchman Syprien, still marked by his experience in the astonishing “micronation” of Whangamomona, in the west of the North Island. “Every year since 1902, the guys who work on the surrounding farms get together, they create a team and play three matches. They even played against the Blacks! » Let’s leave the conclusion to Jack Whetton, who deserves it due to his background and his genealogy: “Rugby will always be the number 1 sport in New Zealand. So yes, maybe young people play less. But the best will always play there. »