Kōrero: Sport and the nation

All Black captain Tana Umaga leads the celebrations after the rugby team had defeated Australia 34–24 at Eden Park, Auckland, in 2005, and so won both the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations competition. Umaga was of Samoan ancestry, and others in the photograph with Pacific backgrounds are Rodney So'oialo (bottom left), Jerry Collins (top left), Malili Muliaina (top centre), and Keven Mealamu (right). Other Pacific Island All Blacks that year were Ioane Afoa, Sosene Anesi, Sione Lauaki, Chris Masoe, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Saimone Taumoepeau, Neemia Tialata, Isaia Toeava, Mose Tuiali'i and Piri Weepu, who was of Māori and Niuean descent. More than a third of the All Blacks of that year had a Pacific background.