USA vs New Zealand: Not To Be Taken for Granted
USA vs New Zealand: Not To Be Taken for Granted
Cherish those opportunities.
That's the message for the 1984 Cup captains and probably the fans, too. As the poet Joni Mitchell said, "you don't what you've got 'til it's gone."
So traveling, or playing opponents you don't see very often, even just playing rugby, carries with it a new appreciation for both All Blacks captain Sam Cane and Eagles captain Bryce Campbell.
You Get to Play Again
Cane, who had a neck injury followed by a shoulder reconstruction that kept him out of rugby for six months knows a little about not getting to do something you love.
"I’ve been really driven just to nail the rehab process and get back playing rugby," Can said. Never mind the next step, which is "giving myself a shot at playing for the All Blacks again."
Notice he doesn't automatically assume he's going to play—with the All Blacks, and really with any international team, you can't assume the seat's being kept warm for you. Still, the chance to play, and the chance to play in the USA, helped drive Cane to get fit.
"This tour has been at the back of my mind and a real focus throughout the whole rehab process," he said.
You Get Another Chance
The USA is coming off a bad loss in Uruguay, and you might think, OK, they're in big trouble against incoming powerhouse New Zealand. But it's not quite like that.
"It was a tough one, it’s still a tough one to swallow," said Campbell about the loss to Uruguay which meant that the Eagles have to face Chile to get a place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. "But that’s sport and that’s life. You can lay down and go away or you can find motivation to get back up on the horse and learn from it, and that’s what we’re going to do."
And they're fortunate to have this powerhouse come to DC. Fortunate? Yes.
"We’re really lucky that the All Blacks are coming over and we get a chance to step back on the field," said Campbell. It’d be much hard if you had to step away and not play for another six months."
The Eagles take on the All Blacks in DC in only 10 DAYS!
— 1874 Cup (@1874Cup) October 13, 2021
The team is ready, are you? Grab some friends and head to FedExField to support the team!
Head to the link in our bio to grab your tickets! pic.twitter.com/3qdXX8ccpS
It's Called a Test Match for a Reason
Will this be too much for the USA? No way, said Campbell. How can you know if you measure up, or where you measure up, unless you play? The players never back down from this sort of challenge.
Hey even sports pundits in New Zealand talking with GRR Editor Alex Goff ask that question
Check out GRR's appearance on the Country Sport Breakfast Show in NZ as we help preview the @1874Cup @USARugby vs @AllBlacks https://t.co/Eju276G5jr
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) October 12, 2021
"One of our union’s big concerns has been getting games against some of the top countries in the world," said Campbell. "And now that we have it, we need to take the opportunity with both hands. The Kiwis play with an intensity and a speed that’s like no other team in the world. It’s really exciting that we’re going to face that and be able to challenge ourselves against it."
You Get To See Your Fans, and Vice Versa
For both teams this is partly about finding new fans. Members of the Eagles were at FedEx Field this weekend to be seen by fans at the Washington NFL Team-Kansas City Chiefs game for just that purpose.
Thank you for having us, @WashingtonNFL pic.twitter.com/9mOPf26sOY
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) October 17, 2021
The All Blacks played The Rugby Championship in a bubble in Queensland before getting the OK to tour the USA and then UK. The team will stay in a pretty tightly-controlled bubble during the trip, but Cane said they are hugely aware of what it means for their fans to see them in person, and, for that matter, for the players to see their fans in the USA.
"It's massively important [to be seen]," said Cane. "It’s a rare and special opportunity and we’re well aware that fans are what makes this sport special. The All Blacks social media should be pretty active and give fans an insight into what we're doing."
And they also just want to play well for a fan base in the USA that doesn't get to see them often.
"We always want to leave a good, strong impression and a positive impression wherever we go," said Cane. "We do our best to hold ourselves to the high standards we’ve set and enjoy the time that we have [in the US]. It’s special to be traveling again and being in the States is a rare opportunity for us."
And for everyone.
