On 29 May 1953, New Zealand’s Edmund Hillary became the first man to climb Mt Everest. On 20 June 2010, the All Whites tied Italy in a Mt Everest like feat.
The comparison is obvious.
John Adshead – who coached the All Whites at their only other World Cup finals appearance in 1982 – likened the result to Edmund Hillary reaching the top of Mount Everest for the first time with Tenzing Norgay in 1953.
“It was like waking up and hearing that Everest had just been climbed by Hillary. It had that same effect this morning,” Adshead said.
No comment out of Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement, two of New Zealand’s best known exports. Hopefully the Flight of the Conchords duo known for their dry wit come up with a song celebrating this “win”.