However, it is also true that there are some Saturday nights that we would rather forget!
Ask an All Black whom they hate losing to the most, and you may get a range of opinion, but until recent times, Test Matches versus “those whining Poms”… England… have not only been mandatory for our rugby tradition, honour, and standing, but also for our sanity, as The Englishmen have tended to gloat with impunity, even in a draw, using such rare matches as an opportunity to celebrate like they have just won the World Cup, the Football World Cup… making any future defeat too painful to even begin to contemplate.
Why am I bringing up such surreal and depressing possibilities?
You will have to read on, but recently I have “met” one Englishman who seems a-little-less-like this “gross” generalisation.
Probably the first hint to this reality was back in the day, when as Captain of England, he called the English Rugby Football Union, and I quote, “57 Old Farts.” Hmmm, simple, yet effective! Personally, what sits in my memory is the Semi-Final, in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, after Jonah Lomu had played the Superman card, with this Captain showing the grace of humility in defeat!
Not only has this historically set him apart, but with much celebration, we also have a present example.
He has NOW joined us at BackingBlack. Yes, you read that correctly!
Without further delay, I would like to introduce you to BackingBlack Member No. 494 – “bumchin” – a.k.a. Former England Rugby Union Captain, Will Carling!
“bumchin” – Will Carling – Backing Black Member No. 494
Before we have to place Will in protective detail in the Old Dart, he has not entirely traded in the “Lemonade and Sticky Buns” of England for the “L & P and Fush and Chups” of New Zealand, as he still longs after the English Rose (See Jersey in Photo), but we are the thorn in his side that will not go away!
I know what you’re thinking, this story sounds like the Front-row forwards scoring recital after midnight… a long story and hardly resembling the truth! Therefore, let us journey together, as Will Carling and iamjonnyking, make music, South Pacific style, on a social networking site.
It all began with a simple question on Twitter from @willcarling, directed at the wind [Insert: at No One, so Everyone].
ok ok, serious Q. Apart from me (haha) who are the most interesting peeps to follow on Twitter??
The humour of the man! Surely he realises that we do mostly read his “tweets”! As humble as ever, I naturally thought of numerous other sites that one could offer and promote… Okay, okay, so this was an opening, therefore, I tweeted this…
@willcarling Is this boring you, Mr Carling?
http://www.backingblack.co.nz/blog/1/jonny-king-stands-up.html
A reverse psychology-of-sorts! What about you? Have you read this piece? Well, we will deal with you later, as it was not long before Mr Carling tweeted the following…
@iamjonnyking good piece, enjoyed that
I couldn’t have agreed more… and the hunt was on… Now, one could have left it there, but where’s the fun in that… so I responded
@willcarling You’re a fast reader Mr Carling! Good Public school training 😉
And with more cheek…
@willcarling You could join BackingBlack and leave a comment… that would get the tongues wagging!
Carling, being the good sport that he is… well, he did play for England, after all… he responded!
@iamjonnyking how rude could I be?? the last time i took the p*ss out of your lot, they didn’t seem to get sarcasm/ banter !! 🙂
I can empathise with the failure to “get the point” in one’s communication, as I am more prone to write, than those who are prone to read! While this could drive a reader to tears, we must move on. At this point, I jumped in with some additional reading candy from iamjonnyking (That is where I blog, homey)!
@willcarling 3rd Part of my Interview w/Neemia Tialata cming soon. C wat you are missing. Some can Inform, bt can they do so compellingly?!
While it may seem cultural to say that I am blowing my own trumpet, it may be more realistic to describe it as blowing my own “vuvuzela”… you know, loud, obnoxious, and just goes on, and on… and on…and! Nevertheless, with my cards on the table, I headed back to answer Will’s previous tweet, where I affirmed…
@willcarling I want names and numbers Will… Can I call u such? I will not stand for it. For the love of warm beer & cold summers!
Giggle, giggle… The time was right, so I went for the heart… Zinny!
@willcarling Will, I think it would be g8! U r a fan of the ABs, & U R not 1 4 allowing the machine to mitigate ur freedom in choice. 4 Zinny?
I know, an unfair argument to use, but desperate men will do such things. Unaware of any developments at this time in the narrative, I innocently made my way back to the BackingBlack blog and found the following comment… from a “bumchin”
Have to admit that when I first heard of ‘backing black’ I thought of something very different, hence was not too keen to have a look. Some strange Kiwi (narrows the field down a lot I know) guy persuaded me – can’t believe I fell for that. Despite my p*ss taking, for some bizarre reason I am an AB fan, so hope the WC 2011 is a huge success, hope the AB’s do it, as the ‘choker joke’ has run out of steam…… Apart from that, love the blog. Wasn’t sure of you guys could read let alone write……….
While I didn’t read the profile that was left until later, take a look at this…
I’d love to see the All Blacks…win the next World Cup if England fail for some strange reason….
My favourite place to watch the All Blacks is: Twickenham, as I am a lazy b*stard
I reckon that… Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye-opener
My Twitter page: http://twitter.com/willcarling
My Website or blog: http://www.rucku.com
Oh the frivolity of the moment, break out the carbonated soft drinks, as this was all confirmed by Will Carling himself, in the following tweet…
@iamjonnyking just left a comment on the site. Will now duck and await abuse 🙂
This is where you can come in reader… the abuse part! However, this comment-love by Carling encouraged this further outburst from yours truly…
@willcarling I am laughing out loud Mr Carling. I won’t tell anyone. Nobody will know. What about clicking “Enjoyed”? If U win a jersey, a photo
And, Yes, he even went back and clicked, “Enjoyed“… What a Fan! Getting giddy with old age, and excitement, I went on encouraging with further wordiness… again!
@willcarling LOVE IT! Knew you had it in you! Not sure if you will get much… yet, as this is very new. Get Zinzan, Fitzpatrick, etc
Yes, Man who has worn Black [Insert: Zinzan, Fitzpatrick, Lomu, etc], Your Country still needs You! We want all those who have carried the tradition to stand with this movement, and join this Black Gold!
Deciding to go all self-deprecating, I mentioned the following…
@willcarling “Some Strange Kiwi”… U R A perceptive man… For all those a bit worried, I have no Irish connections 😉
And now, after all that we had been through, even Will Carling himself, was spreading the BackingBlack Blog Gospel from his own Twitter Feed!
good rugby blog from the land of the long white cloud (no it is nothing illegal!!)
http://bit.ly/9SSvPh #rugby #allblacks #boks
Not missing an opportunity for self-promotion, iamjonnyking responded in XT… Telecom, are you reading this?
@willcarling If they ever send me to the Motherland, & the good Lord knows, I am trying, I will honour U with… …the ale variety!
Finally, Will responded in kind…
@iamjonnyking haha, look forward to it!
Oh What a Night!… and the BackingBlack movement has only just begun!
“Hero” Carling – Frolicking with his “other” Minions!
What does all this mean, and why am I telling you this?
This one situation provides you a snapshot, a single example of the sort of people you can connect with on BackingBlack. If you join the movement, you will have the opportunity to meet some really diverse, interesting and exceptional people like me!… [You’re thinking]… “You? That is the best you can come up with?”… I mean, like “bumchin”… Will Carling! Just look at the above photo of him… People! Englishmen want to literally, run after him… Rexona? Why wouldn’t you want to run after him on BackingBlack??!!
If the context of the All Blacks can encourage community between an ex-England Captain who spends too much time on-line and a young… ish kiwi blogger, who is also guilty as charged, to not only connect, but have a good time about it, then with all the other added benefits on BackingBlack, surely joining the team led by Telecom, is not only worth your time, but worth your investment… and since it’s FREE… this one’s on me… spread the Word… even on XT [are you feeling my flow]!
It is amazing what can happen when we put on the same jersey… World Cup 2011 – anyone!
One Size Fits All!
Until Next Time
iamjonnyking
