Team New Zealand 2 - Alinghi 1 - Audio

I just hope New Zealand can show the same enthusiasm when the All Blacks bring back the world cup.Good to see the passion here but not my cup of tea.

It's interesting that the NZ media seem to refer to Emirates Team NZ as just Team NZ, when the world media refer to the team by it's proper franchise name. From some of the comments I'm reading, the impression seems to be that they are a nationally selected squad, like the All Blacks, Silver Ferns or an NZ Olympic Team are. I guess this is all part of the charade, so we buy their over-priced t-shirts and merchandise (feel good about 'our team'). From what I understand the boats aren't even designed in NZ (Spain). In the main, Emirates Team NZ is an international squad made up of NZer's, Aussies, Brits, and Americans. It's a franchise just like Manchester United or Chicago Bulls, they are not competing for 'the pride of their country' but for the pride of their corporate sponsors (what does a Silver Fern mean to an Aussie, Brit or American ?). In any case the results to date have been favourable for them, still a long way to go yet though....the way that article is written, assumes that

are you sure jonathan, I'm a southerner, and I am interested in the race, as are everyone else I know.

Quite right alan, and even from darkest China, I will be following the news at the weekend intently. With a name like mine, would be considered a traitor if I didn't!!!

Jonathan, you are talking utter rubbish and moreover you clearly don’t represent the feelings and passions of Southerners. There is certainly a very solid support base in Christchurch.

Sorry,folks but id rather watch paint dry!Cant see what all the fuss is about.Give me an All Black game over that, any day.Lasts longer for a start!Suppose its an Auckland thing,as the southerners are not interested either.Good Luck to them but id rather sleep!Each to his own but that doesnt stir me one bit.

graham henry might be seen has the best coach at the moment but wales and other teams graham henry have coached will tell you different also i am not a big fan of rugby as it is put on tv to much and we need to support the sailors as they get very little air time on tv when they do get it.

with the alinghi syndicate saying today's race was more about fate than skill...i can only assume that god is on the side of team new zealand too! touch wood, go boys!

gee Tom, nice to see how supporting you are of our sports people. Sorry but really, people that make lame comments like that towards a sports team that is considered one of the best in the world are the losers, not the sportsmen going out there and playing for the pride of their country, not the money, because compared to what they can earn overseas playing for the all blacks makes peanuts.

Well I didn't manage to see it live, but cool, what a result again :) As for the All Black comment about them being losers - I'm not the worlds biggest fan I can tell you now, but considering that Henry is considered the worlds top coach by his peers (again) and the team is the best in the world 2nd year running, just imagine what would happen if we were winners then - so I'm more than happy to follow a bunch of "losers" from time to time if that's the kind of results they get :)