I agree with Roger Smith's comments. I have lived in NZ and I did receive
my fair share of Aussie knocking, but it was all delivered and received in
a friendly manner. The rivalry between our countries is never so great as
when we are competing at sport, especially Rugby, Netball and Hockey. There
is rarely any mercy shown during these games, but there is also a healthy
respect between the teams. The attitude in Australia is generally one of
"If we can't win it then I hope the Kiwis can.". I can assure all the Kiwis
out there that there were very few Aussies supporting the Springboks in the
last Rugby World Cup final (the All Blacks should have won!), and I know
that most Kiwis will support the Wallabies when they make it to this year's
world cup final, unless of course the All Blacks also make it..

George Bailey
Objects Conservator
Australian War Memorial
Treloar Centre for Conservation
4 Callan St, Mitchell, A.C.T. 2911
Australia
Phone: +61 2 6243 4440
fax:   +61 2 6241 7998
email: [log in to unmask]