Hello again. For the past few weeks I've been asking you all to stay classy, wites All White Andy Boyens.
A sense of class is a trait you hope to encounter when you come up against one of the best footballing teams in the world.
Unfortunately, earlier this week we encountered a lack of class from a theatrical Italian team that bordered on embarrassing.
Unfortunately for us, they managed to dupe the referee, who was caught hook, line and sinker by their Oscar-winning performances.
Having said that, we can't get too angry. It's kind of flattering in a way.
The fact that the reigning world champions had to resort to such tactics shows just how much respect we have earned on the world stage.
In the middle of one of our many fan sections, one banner seemed to fit the night more than the others: BRING BACK BUCK.
Now, I know you see this at every Kiwi sporting event these days but the effort and determination our team showed on the field against the Italians epitomised what that banner means.
I think if big Buck Shelford was watching the game, he would have been nodding his head in approval of what really was an inspired performance from the lads.
In games like these, you need everyone to step up to a different level.
Every person needs to put in more effort than they thought humanly possible.
I think every one of the guys that took the field on Sunday night (Monday morning NZ time) can look back on this game and truly tell themselves that they did just that.
I think it is also very safe to say that the Kiwi fans who attended the game put on an outstanding performance from the stands.
As a player, when you are away from home you love to look up at the crowd and see the white shirts staring back at you.
The atmosphere was electric.
It was clear to us all that they lived and breathed every minute of the game with us.
I remember at one point in the game, just after we conceded the very soft penalty, there was a Mexican wave going around the stadium.
I was absolutely fuming because I felt we'd been wronged.
It turns out that our fans were feeling the exact same way because I glanced up at our biggest supporters' section as the wave approached them and they didn't move an inch.
They were standing there, stonefaced, staring daggers at the referee.
The end result from the effort put in from both the players and the fans was a magical night that will undoubtedly go down as one of the best ever in New Zealand sporting history.
With destiny in our own hands, I'm still hoping the best moment is yet to come.
Till next time, I'm Ron Boyensy.
Thanks for staying classy, Otago.
