Nature vs Nurture: Rugby Style

The nature vs nurture debate is one that has always fascinated me - and I'm forever determining what is nature, vs what is nurture - as far as a I go, as far as my kids go, as far as society goes, as far as the world goes.  I've always thought about it on a serious level - an academic level (because I am geeky like that)... BUT now the age old debate is striking home on a completely new level. 

Where my rugby allegiances lie.

Nature:  29 years ago my parents won some game of darts on Christmas Day - 9 months later, well - 8 months & 4 weeks later, I was born.  Whilst I was safely nestled in my Mummy's tummy, my blood began flowing blue & gold, as a fetus I sung the Highlanders song, whilst swallowing amniotic fluid.  Mum's uterus was probably blue and gold, come think of it.  Many days and nights throughout my life, were spent cheering for the men in blue & gold - Otago, Highlanders - whichever, it didn't matter.  They were Otago.  They were MY team.  I spent many a special day in Dunedin with my Dad - the day ending at Carisbrook, watching Otago or the Highlanders taking on another team.  I screamed.  I painted my face blue and gold.  I had the scarf.  I had the tshirt.  I had the hat.  Josh Kronfeld made me giddy, and Taine Randall was 'the man'.  [Jeff Wilson however.. I strongly disliked.]

2001:  I made the hardest decision an Otago supporter will ever have to make - I decided to move to Christchurch.  The place of 'red and black' - the home of the 'mighty' Crusaders & the Canterbury NPC team.  I balked whenever I saw a red & black flag, I screwed my face up whenever I saw a red and black jersey.  I rolled my eyes when those around me got excited because Andrew Merthens was walking past.  I hated Justin Marshall with every ounce of my being. 

The highlight of my year was always that one night a year, when the Highlanders or Otago, would come up to Christchurch to play the Crusaders or Canterbury.  I would get decked out in blue and gold, I would grab my flag, have a couple of beers with whomever I was with - then head down to Jade Stadium (may the rugby-god bless its soul) - and spend the following 2-ish hours heckling red and black supporters, getting heckled by red and black supporters, screaming, singing, chanting, having things thrown at me..  Sadly I don't remember the Highlanders or Otago winning any of those games.  But I always had a blast, and felt for a couple of hours like I was 'home'.  There was always an amazing camaraderie between the blue and gold supporters at games like that.  People you had never met, became your best friend - for a couple of hours at least.  And [some of] your friends became your enemies - for a couple of hours at least.

Nurture:  When I decided to grow up and move out of my parents house, I no longer had access on a weekly basis, to live rugby games on TV.  For a few years, essentially all the rugby I watched was All Blacks matches - because Dad was kind enough to invite me over to watch with him.  I HEARD about how the Highlanders & Otago were doing (not well), and I HEARD about how the Crusaders & Canterbury were doing (well, as usual) - but my interest in the game dwindled a bit.  I was no longer 'hardcore' when it came to the blue and golds.

Fast forward a bit... child born... child born... earthquake... earthquake... earthquake... escape to Wanaka... start texting Lauriel a LOT...

September 9, 2011 - the Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off, and over the next few weeks Lauriel and I become ratherrrrrr obsessed with the All Blacks - a couple in particular.  Just so happens that Lauriel's new hubby is a Crusaders & Canterbury player - and that coincides with my new favourite players essentially ALL being Crusaders [minus that very special man who wears black and yellow].

If we fast forward to the Crusaders first home game of 2012 (and since the end of 2010, thanks earthquake bitches!), the Crusaders are playing the Cheetahs.  Crusaders score, I clap, and cheer along with the rest of the crowd.  Just because it's the thing to do.  Heart not REALLY in it, but I do get excited when I see various players.  Second home game of 2012, the Crusaders are playing the Stormers.  CLOSE game.  I'm with my girlfriend at this game, we briefly see Richie McCaw and both squeeeeeeee... Izzy waves in our direction (purely coincidental, but we had just said "Hi Izzy!", so it was actually rather funny), I drool just a tiny bit when Zac lifts his top up and we see the glorious body that.... NO.. ON WITH THE STORY.  I cheer quite happily whenever Tom Taylor scores for the Crusaders - because it IS a close game, and anyone could win.  I tell myself my excitement is related to three things:
1.  Being there with my girlfriend
2.  Seeing Richie McCaw - and seeing my girlfriend see him
3.  Izzy waving at us
[4.  Seeing Zaccy lift his top up, and getting a peek at the nommy bod]

NOW.  This is where things get real.  This is where I begin questioning everything I have ever known about myself.  This is where I begin to feel like a traitor, and like a complete failure.

Home game #4.  Crusaders vs Blues.  Lauren and I take the girls to watch - we're in the take a kid to footy area, nice and close to ground level - sitting RIGHT beside the try line.  There is a bountiful bevvy of my favourite players, playing right there in front of me.  I am decidedly excited.  The game starts & the Crusaders are kicking ass, right from the word go.  I giggle about the stupid media dicks who suggested it'd be a close game, because it so obviously was NOT going to be that way.  Tries are scored on a very regular basis, and I find myself jumping up and screaming and shouting and cheering and clapping and..........

Mr McCaw got a try.  Zaccy had an awesome game.  Zaccy got a try.  6 other people got tries.  And I cheered loudly for each.  And was purely excited.   Not once did I think 'I'm cheering just because...' - I was cheering because I was actually excited.

But the nail in the coffin came yesterday - I watched a replay of the game on Sky, and was texting Lauriel during... she asked me at one point how the game was going, it had finishes - and I replied "WE WON!!!!".  She pointed out to me last night that I said WE. won.  WE.  As in WE - the Crusaders.

It's in my DNA to support the Highlanders / Otago, yet societal and environmental influences (and the love of my life) are causing me to form a soft spot for the Crusaders / Canterbury - to the point that I believe I could go to a Crusaders v Highlanders game, and quite happily support the Crusaders - over the Highlanders.

Just so happens that next weekend the Crusaders ARE playing the Highlanders up here, and I may have to go along to the game to put my little theory to the test.......

[I still hate Justin Marshall].