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'Never felt more proud of our anthem' - reactions to 'special moment' in the history of Australian sport
Before their final test match of the year, the Wallabies made history by becoming the first Australian team to perform an Indigenous anthem at an international sporting event.
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Newtown High School of the Performing Arts student, Olivia Fox, led an incredible rendition of Advance Australia Fair, which was sung in Eora language.
But the Wallabies themselves also turned heads, as the 23-players selected in the matchday squad paid their respects by singing it word-for-word as well. It has been revealed by captain Michael Hooper that the team had been practising the anthem all week.
???? AMAZING! SO PROUD! #AUSvARG #YourTeam #OurJourney #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/A65tCwrwG5
— Wallabies (@wallabies) December 5, 2020
“We were practising during the week and our guys were – there was never a question – proud to have the opportunity to do it,” Hooper said.
“Wearing an Indigenous jersey and singing that in Aboriginal and then English, it was great and it was great to be a part of.”
By wearing their First Nations jersey as well, the historic rendition will go down in history as a landmark moment in Australian sporting history.
The anthem has largely been met with support, with people on Twitter calling for it to become a permanent part of Australian international sport, if not for the country as a whole.
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Former Wallaby flyhalf Matt Giteau was one of many people to express their support for the combination of an Indigenous and English version of Advance Australia Fair, describing it as a “special moment in Australian sport.”
Special moment in Australian sport.. well done @wallabies ?????? https://t.co/61EV884V53
— Matt Giteau ?? (@giteau_rugby) December 5, 2020
Spine-tingling.
The finest rendition of the Australian national anthem. That was brilliant. Never felt more proud of our anthem.
Well done Olivia Fox #TriNations2020 #AUSvARG
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) December 5, 2020
How great was that! Listening to the Aussie anthem being sung in the Eora language of the Gadigal people. Inspiring stuff, well done @wallabies? #AUSvARG
— Paul Alo-Emile (@PaulAloEmile) December 5, 2020
Not going to lie, got a wee bit emotional listening to the Australian national anthem
Really beautiful#AUSvARG— Abdullah Mahmood (@AbbyDno7) December 5, 2020
Loved the Australian anthem sung in Eora Nation language before the #AUSvARG test. And every Aussie player had made the effort the learn the words. Nice touch, Rugby Australia. More of this please!
— ? Reece Proudfoot (@ReeceProudfoot) December 5, 2020
A new Australian anthem, very good! And seeing the Aussies singing along with gusto, even better. #AUSvARG
— Alice Soper (@alicesoapbox) December 5, 2020
Bi-lingual anthem? I like it!! #AUSvARG
— Dave Jefferson (@cyclopath967) December 5, 2020
Loving hearing Advance Australia Fair sung in an Indigenous language and then in English before the @wallabies and @unionargentina Test. Much like the South African and New Zealand anthems. Would love this to be our official anthem. #AUSvARG #ARGvAUS #TriNations #TriNations2020
— Declan Keyes-Bevan (@deckeyesbevan) December 5, 2020
Loved hearing the Aussie anthem in an indigenous language…something to think about. #AUSvARG
— Bill Woods (@bmrwoods) December 5, 2020
Electric Anthem
Indigenous and Australian versions needs to be done more often at sporting games#TriNations2020 #AUSvARG— Nathan Williamson (@NathW1997) December 5, 2020
Absolutely love that the @wallabies learned the lyrics for the anthem in Eora. Absolute class ?????? #AUSvARG #Wallabies ??????
— Fraser Smith (@Fraser__Smith) December 5, 2020
So impressed by the anthem and the fact the players obviously put in the time to learn the 1st Nations verse #AUSvARG
— ?Wombat (@wombat_wood) December 5, 2020
That was incredible with the anthem! Well done @RugbyAU and @wallabies for the passionate singing! Loved it! #TriNations2020 #ausvarg #anthem
— Mark (@Mark__d_h) December 5, 2020
Now that’s how the anthem should be sung every single time #AUSvARG
— Sammalorian ?? (@Borgus17) December 5, 2020
That was incredibly moving. To hear the Anthem sung in one of the languages of the First Australians that the Wallabies all took the effort to learn. #AUSvARG
— Erin Clarke (@ErinClarke_19) December 5, 2020
One thing to keep in mind after the Wallabies Eora rendition of the national anthem. There are over 250 different Indigenous languages in this country. This was not “the indigenous language” it was one of many. A fascinating collection of cultures, languages & history. #AUSvARG
— Jordan Patu. (@Jordan_Patu) December 5, 2020
As for the match that followed, the Wallabies were held to their third draw in six matches after going down to 14-men.
A red card to replacement second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the 60th minute had the hosts well and truly on the back foot, trailing by four at the time. But a try to captain Michael Hooper with 13-minutes to play meant that it was anyone’s game, with the scores locked at 16-all.
Fullback Reece Hodge had a chance to win the match for his side in the dying stages, but in tough, slippery conditions at Paramatta’s Bankwest Stadium, he wasn’t able to convert the difficult kick.
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The draw sees the Wallabies finish the Tri Nations with a win, a loss and two draws. While they finished equal on competition points with the Pumas, points difference saw the tournament’s hosts finish last.
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
7 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
7 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
7 Go to comments