RWC 2011: detail, rugby sculpture, Wellington

For Rugby World Cup 2011, Weta Workshops made a free-standing sculpture commemorating the spirit of rugby in New Zealand. At present the sculpture is sited next to Wellington's civic square. It shows a lineout, with a jumper leaping high to take a bronze ball, supported by several forwards. The sculpture is in the tradition of classical modernism, and has a style which can be described as grim heroic, resembling a war memorial.

The sculpture is worth studying, for the vivid detail and for what it suggests about the way rugby is perceived in New Zealand. For instance, only the players of one team feature in the sculpture - I've often thought that New Zealanders spend too much worrying about, and critiquing, the All Blacks' performance without thinking about the opposition.

We saw this in the reaction to New Zealand's win over Tonga in the tournament's opening game. The pundits lambasted the All Blacks for a lacklustre performance in the second half, without acknowledging that perhaps Tonga had really lifted their game.