You really can't get much more Aussie than this story about Australian cricketer, Dean Jones:
...[Jones] went out to bat during the famous tied Test of 1986 at Chidambaran Stadium, Madras, despite suffering from a combination of dysentery, vomiting and feeling faint. The temperature was simmering around the 40 degree C mark, the humidity in excess of 90 per cent, and at one point Jones thought he was going to collapse.
“Mate,” Jones had told his batting partner, Australian captain Allan Border, “I'm going to have to go off, I just can't go on, I'm too crook.”
“Sure mate,” [Border] said in reply, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “and when you go back in, can you ask them to send an Australian back, because that's what we need out here.”
Jones stayed and went on to register his highest Test score of 210 runs.
You see, that's what being an Australian is about. When the chips are down; when it comes to the crunch, and everything is against you, what really matters is...
Sport.
Preferably, winning at sport.
Which is why, even though I find the game about as interesting as a kick in the head, I'll end up watching Australia get their arses kicked by New Zealand in rugby this weekend, and I'll honestly believe, despite all evidence to the contrary, that Australia are in with a chance to win it.
Updated 2003-11-15. Final score: Australia 22, New Zealand 10. Yay. Although I only ended up watching the last fifteen minutes.
Ha! I need to read more Australian news. That article is great.
... "there is this, and it comes straight from the bible. I quote Isaiah, Chapter 14, verse 12 lines 3-14: "And yea, verily is it written, that in the future the weak shall be strong, the meek shall be bold, the poor will be rich, the rich will be poor and the All Blacks will miss out on winning four Rugby World Cups in a row." (It is, admittedly an Australian edition.)" ...
Such patriotism!
To keep things a little balanced, the common refrain I hear from most New Zealanders is: "I support two teams. The All-Blacks, and anyone playing against Australia".
Ha! You should try being English! Wales, Ireland _and_ Scotland all support their own international teams as well as anyone playing against England, in just about every sport there is!