In my case because my pakeha mum taught it to us kids when we were young, and we loved chanting it!

In Qld’s case apart from Lockyer, Price and Civoniceva, the oldest who played were Thurston and Hodges at 26. NSW have plenty of backs, but possibly not as settled in their combinations, so it’s going to be interesting.

The difference between the two sides were how the Aussie limited their mistakes. New Zealand seemed to either drop the ball or give away a penalty at critical times during the game. Also the NZ attack seemed to be playing flat and not hitting the line at speed. And with the entire NZ attack based around Marshall, he was well targeted and that shut NZ down pretty well.

Regarding SOO, the key will be whether NSW selectors decide to pick a side that will try to win the series or instead pick a side that will try not to lose the series.

He said that Sheens made them watch the tape of the final of the World Cup last year and pointed out their crap defence. Very likely the fact that Australia repelled four successive sets with the Kiwis storming their line about 15 minutes in was a turning point in the game. The commenters pointed out that the Kiwis were running on empty towards the end of the first half and the Australian tries then and immediately on resumption were killers.

I think all the nine tries in the match were scored by going through or around the opposition, which is unusual. Australia’s better lateral defence was noticeable. The NSW back row and bench made important contributions there.

I hate to say why, but I know the haka off by heart.

At school in Brisbane the 1950s our football coach had spent some time teaching in New Zealand. All schools in our competition had a war cry. Ours was some obscure Maori war chant he’d picked up on the way.

We were still using it in my senior year in 1959. I’ve often wondered how long that practice lasted.

T?nei te tangata p?huruhuru

N?na nei i tiki mai whakawhiti te r?

?, upane! ka upane!

?, upane, ka upane, whiti te ra!

Hodges was always penetrating and scored two tries, but man of the match with 10 runs and 4 tackles was a bit of a surprise. I thought it should have been Lockyer.

I noted down instances of dumb play by the Australians, like Slater yet again passing over the sideline and kicking when he should have kept the ball in hand. Although both the ABC and Channel Nine comentary praised Glenn Stewart, and fair enough, for his general play, I had him for three dumb plays, including the dropped ball that invited the Kiwis in for their first try.

Their second followed a penalty for Gidley putting his hand on the ball, also dumb. Petero got pinged for the same earlier, but luckily it didn’t cost.

Video ref Bill Harrigan told Warren Ryan that his Kiwi colleague ruled the shepherd no-try to Billy Slater in the 61st minute, which was also dumb.

Anyway after the score got to 26-6 I started to feel sorry for the Kiwis.

I took some comfort out of it for Queensland’s SOO chances. Generally the NSW players did well and this year they seem to have plenty of talent to pick from. They’ll have to put it together for 80 mins as a team though.

I have to say that it surprised me that people south of the border would prefer to watch City v Country. We tend to see it as NSW doing us a favour by bashing each other up before SOO.