LockerRoom writer Merryn Anderson joined the massive, but mannerly, crowd at Eden Park to watch her first games of women's rugby - and will never forget what she witnessed. Still, she found there's work to do before the spectator experience is one of equality.
I’ve been at women’s sports games where there’s been a spattering of fans around the ground. I’ve been at double-headers where fans file out before the women’s game begins. I’ve tuned into livestreams of women’s games where the viewing numbers are measly compared to their men’s counterparts. I’ve heard countless times: ‘Oh I don’t watch women’s sports’.
So to be one of 34,235 vocal supporters at Eden Park watching the Black Ferns open their Rugby World Cup campaign was an experience I’ll never forget.
The last time I was at Eden Park was for a Covid-impacted, limited crowd capacity, slightly rainy Cricket World Cup match back in March. I still get chills when I remember the 20 percent capacity crowd roar and rise to their feet when White Ferns captain Sophie Devine re-entered the game against England after retiring hurt.
But nothing could compare to a sold-out stadium on Saturday cheering on our wāhine, as they entered the stadium to line up for their national anthems.
I’m not ashamed to share that I shed a tear or two during the anthems and the stirring haka from the Black Ferns. And I know for certain I wasn't alone. The energy and passion of the crowd was something I was never sure I’d see at a women’s game.
I feel a bit embarrassed to admit this was the first women’s rugby game I’ve attended in person (to be fair, I’ve only ever been to one All Blacks' game, too). But it sure as hell won’t be my last.
I found myself screaming “COME ON RUBY!” with an aggressiveness I’ve never heard come out of my mouth before. I was swept up by the crowd from my seat in the nosebleed section of the South Stand (right above the corner where the Black Ferns scored tries in the second half).
Every sport’s crowd has a different vibe - netball fans are passionate but controlled, cricket fans are opinionated but fun, and football fans straight up intimidate me with their chants and world of knowledge of the game.
I’ve sometimes avoided going to rugby games, as I’ve worried I’ll be surrounded by inebriated men yelling insults at the ref and players.
And while the man next to me drank more than his fair share of alcohol, it seemed the whole stadium was backing the Black Ferns 100 percent. (A special shoutout to the man behind me cracking me up with his commentary; a little bit of political humour is always welcome at my games.)
From the sight of thousands waving their poi to hearing the entire crowd cheer Stacey Fluhler as she walked off, one of the true joys of sport is being part of a collective.
I'd driven up from Hamilton for the day, and caught a free public bus (it comes with the entry ticket) as close as I could to Eden Park. There was a steady stream of fans filing in, with most ticket holders taking advantage of the triple-header and arriving in time to catch South Africa vs France, and then England vs Fiji.
Despite a handful of flags for both teams in the stands, the Kiwi crowd was firmly behind Fijiana, and the reaction from the crowd when the side scored their first ever Rugby World Cup try was pretty special.
I'd decided to buy a ticket to the game to be fully immersed in the experience, but I couldn’t help checking out the media centre before kick-off for the final game - the Black Ferns against perennial rivals Australia.
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had the chance to sit directly behind the Black Ferns as they did their haka, but I decided to make my way back up the six flights of stairs to my seat as the game started.
The lines for food stalls (one punter saying they were the longest he'd seen at Eden Park) and bathroom queues were gone by this point, as everyone was watching the game.
Several failed attempts to start a Mexican wave echoed the gaps in the Black Ferns defence, as Australia struck early to be up 17-0. But as the wave grew and travelled around the stadium three times, so did the Black Ferns.
To have that many people screaming and applauding for women’s sport, knowing the names of the players and having opinions on the game was a surreal experience.
It begs the question - will these 30,000 fans come back? Will they continue to support the Black Ferns (or other women's sporting teams, for that matter), tune in to matches, buy their merchandise?
The official All Blacks online store includes just one Black Ferns jersey, one for the Black Ferns Sevens, two branded rugby balls and some pretty expensive throws. The All Blacks merch, however, features over 200 items - everything from socks, gym bags and beanies to rubber ducks ($12 in case you’re wondering, with the option of a No.7 or 10 jersey).
I didn’t see many people dressed in Black Ferns merchandise at Eden Park - the mass of black was mostly made up of All Blacks jerseys, beanies and flags.
Another thing that needs to improve is finding a simple way to secure yourself a seat at this women's tournament. If you search ‘Rugby World Cup tickets’, the entire first page of Google shows you links to the men’s tournament in France in 2023, and it takes a little navigating to get to tickets to the current event.
It's time for New Zealand Rugby to fully show their commitment to their wāhine and their fans, as Saturday was proof of how the times are changing.
But I think the best comment I heard comes from an (unnamed) family member who's usually pretty skeptical about women’s rugby, but still sat down at home to watch the main event on Rugby World Cup's opening day.
And did they enjoy it? It was the best game of rugby they’d ever watched, they said; on the edge of their seat the whole time.
* Day Two of the RWC2021 at the Northland Events Centre in Whangārei yesterday drew in 3552 spectators. Next Sunday's tripleheader at Waitākere Stadium, featuring the Black Ferns v Wales (who beat Scotland in the 85th minute last night), has sold all 4500 tickets available.
The headliner game on Day Two, between Wales and Scotland, was a doozey - and decided in the 85th minute. Wales dominated the first half, leading 15-5, before Scotland threw everything at them in the second, levelling 15-15 in the 79th minute. The Welsh were relentless from the final restart, treasuring the ball until they finally won a penalty five minutes after the hooter, to win 18-15.
In the other two matches, Italy's Azzurri upset the United States, who struggled with their set pieces, 22-10, while Canada were far too strong for Japan, winning 41-5.
