I met him at Auckland airport once, I approached him and told him he was the greatest All Black Full back that I had ever seen, he just gave me a grin & said "thanks mate".
He was still living in NZ at least until 2015(presumably still is, I just couldn't find a mention of him after that), so it's perhaps a little marginal to call him Fijian. I suppose he may have been generally considered Fijian at the time though. NZ also has citizens and sportspeople that moved from many countries. A former South African cricketer hit the winning runs against South Africa in a world cup semi final. It also happens quite often in reverse, a former NZ cricketer effectively won the world cup for England(albeit they didn't technically win, as Englands win was due to an umpire error) against NZ.
Ref bias is not essentially a racist thing. That is rare. Popularity rules in any sport. NZ was the top team for a long time and occasionally yes, refs were on their side, but keep in mind, refs were on Serevi's side for a long time as well. Just as today refs are on Fiji and SA's side. It is less obvious now but that is what it is. If you re-watch the Olympics, the refs were on the USA sides. (Men and womens - they were well advertised). Its getting a lot less biased now due to refs being put to task for anything near bias, but back in the day, Serevi and Rush were the guys running the show and Refs wanted to please the crowd.
It's not necessarily that either, refs from different regions are accustomed to particular styles, and interpretations of rules. I'm not saying that's necessarily the case here, but it often is.
They lost there.. hot dogging area for good reason. The try line could go and lift itself sideways for all some knew. Others said even sailing represents blood lust. The ball was no longer egg shaped.
yes he should have... if he was just another normal player, but he is known as the "little master" for a reason, he has earned respect worldwide as an ambassador for the game, that is why they didn't card him and stand by the decision. so many people in Fiji wake up to play their national sport every day for their lives because of people like Serevi, to card him for just a common body reflex as in trying to trip somebody would cause a national riot, thank god the refs didn't card him.
God, I wish someone would upload all the NZ games at the 1996 HK Sevens!
This is when I first noticed Cullen. He was so good
Best fullback of all time
The most illusive back eva💫
I met him at Auckland airport once, I approached him and told him he was the greatest All Black Full back that I had ever seen, he just gave me a grin & said "thanks mate".
The man the myth the GOAT Christian Cullen 🙌🏽
i agree
I missed most of the great sporting occasions, but i was there!
I was there too and remember they kept on playing the same Airline advert on the screen which got soundly booed.
Fiji is a true champs for hongkong in modern time
Joke of the century 😂
It’s a pity that the low quality of the video makes it unwatchable…
back when refs were one sided as fuck
Fiji lost their own scrums, ball handling errors were high. NZ deserved to win.
why is this slo-mo ? Is there anything in nnormal quality/speed ?
oh the memories♥
With Cullen and lomu in your team means game over
Cullen and Lomu game over to New Zealand in the Wellington Sevens 2000.
@siriloturagamaivei1480 during ben gollings time where is fiji😂
Fijian scored the match winner for NZ 🤯
He was still living in NZ at least until 2015(presumably still is, I just couldn't find a mention of him after that), so it's perhaps a little marginal to call him Fijian. I suppose he may have been generally considered Fijian at the time though.
NZ also has citizens and sportspeople that moved from many countries.
A former South African cricketer hit the winning runs against South Africa in a world cup semi final.
It also happens quite often in reverse, a former NZ cricketer effectively won the world cup for England(albeit they didn't technically win, as Englands win was due to an umpire error) against NZ.
28 years ago
Thanks! I feel Old lol
Ref bias is not essentially a racist thing. That is rare. Popularity rules in any sport. NZ was the top team for a long time and occasionally yes, refs were on their side, but keep in mind, refs were on Serevi's side for a long time as well. Just as today refs are on Fiji and SA's side. It is less obvious now but that is what it is. If you re-watch the Olympics, the refs were on the USA sides. (Men and womens - they were well advertised). Its getting a lot less biased now due to refs being put to task for anything near bias, but back in the day, Serevi and Rush were the guys running the show and Refs wanted to please the crowd.
Someone is becoming for Fiji's dominance.. the ref was on nz side all throughout..your biased and racists eyes is playing trick on your narrow mind
It's not necessarily that either, refs from different regions are accustomed to particular styles, and interpretations of rules. I'm not saying that's necessarily the case here, but it often is.
if you change speed to 1.25 its not so glitchy
Not really
FIJIAN PLAYERS ARE THE BEST EVER NOBODY CAN DENY IT . FIJI PRODUCES GOATS .
I was there
They lost there.. hot dogging area for good reason. The try line could go and lift itself sideways for all some knew. Others said even sailing represents blood lust. The ball was no longer egg shaped.
RIL #JoeTauiwi #NgongotahRFC
Masitewa was a traitor . . He was dropped from Fiji team , went ahead and played for NZ
Cullen , Lomu , Glen Osbourne , Brad Fleming , Masirewa . Rush . Legend team.
+TheForge10 I was there and they were awesome. .
The last four were shit lol
Which last four are you talking about,tournaments or players.
Terry Harris
Ah the players obvs, not “shit” maybe, but average provincial players.
Eric Rush is one of the top two players, of all time sevens players so far,he was hardly average.
Crap video quality
This is a video from 1996. What do expect, HD quality back then .. Jeez
@@Saifull1991bullshit. There are videos of the 70s with better quality than this one.
Not worth uploading.
Ref you are not on your side
Atrocious handling. Don’t know how NZ won.
Viewers beware. I frame per hour
Serevi should've been red carded
yes he should have... if he was just another normal player, but he is known as the "little master" for a reason, he has earned respect worldwide as an ambassador for the game, that is why they didn't card him and stand by the decision. so many people in Fiji wake up to play their national sport every day for their lives because of people like Serevi, to card him for just a common body reflex as in trying to trip somebody would cause a national riot, thank god the refs didn't card him.
0:35 omg no stop running on the spot gordon a ball patch running on the spot is not cool at all lol,
Some scrappy decisions by ref against the Fijians, NZ won with refs help, its a shame...
What do you know about rugby.
we Fiji Indians know more about rugby than you ?
Nazeem Ali, it was a great game. I wish Fiji won but man, one of the best game of seven
Yet a foot trip and horrible retention of the ball, must be a bad referee lol
I would say so
The number of collar tackles by the Fijians was terrible. Pinged only once
Dirty player serevi
don't judge him over one slight act of desperation. he is a legend in 7's