Sometimes the language of sport borrows from the language of war and, as writer George Orwell once said, sport is war without bullets.
Ever since the colonies were formed in the Antipodes we have competed against each other and, when necessary, joined forces to fight external threats.
As a New Zealander there is nothing better than beating an Australian athlete or team but, if Australia was competing against England, South Africa or the United States, I wouldn't hesitate to cheer on an Aussie because it feels like we do have a lot in common when it comes to us against the rest of the world.
I suppose that is why so many ex-pat New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans swarm together when on their OE in the UK and why the rugby league test this weekend is appropriately associated with the Anzac name.
Transtasman tests in rugby league have been going on since 1908 but permission to use the Anzac name was not granted until 1997.
Perhaps as a sign of the times, commercial sponsors have labelled this test the Bundaberg rugby league test from 2004 until 2008 and the Victoria Bitter (VB) test this year.
Unofficially, everyone still refers to it as the Anzac test.
The battle is more than about who can beat whom in a game of league.
It is about who produces the best sportspeople, who has better race relations, who can survive and prosper in the global market, and who can lay claim to iconic symbols like the jandal, pavlova, barbecues, and the buzzy bee.
The big grudge match between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis tomorrow night encapsulates the true spirit of transtasman rivalry while remembering transtasman camaraderie, and that makes for an entertaining prelude to what will hopefully be an exciting game.
The drama and mind games have started already.
References are constantly made to the 34-20 loss the Kangaroos experienced at the hands of the Kiwis in last year's World Cup final.
This loss is still fresh in the hearts and minds of the Kangaroos, so they'll be seeking redemption while the Kiwis will be hoping to assert their worth as World Cup winners.
The media are playing up the drama by referring to battles against Isaac Luke's striking charge, Roy Asotasi's return from a hellish year in 2008, Jeremy Smith's ankle sprain and skipper Benji Marshall's problems, which include a corked thigh, a virus (not of the swine variety) and his Lego shoulders.
Not to be outdone, the Kangaroos also have injury woes with Billy "I'll be right" Slater's sprained ankle, Darius Boyd's corked thigh and Luke Bailey's knee problems.
The media are playing up to the battle symbolism which adds to the anticipation and theatre of an event like the Anzac test.
In wartime, we talked of war heroes.
Perhaps that is why the imagination and admiration of New Zealanders was captured by Corporal Apiata being awarded the Victoria Cross.
In times of relative peace we seek out other heroes, and that void is often filled by sports heroes.
Maybe the Kiwis can pull off another crazy win against the Kangaroos this weekend and make the Australians eat humble pie.
Even if the Kiwis lose, the Australians will still go home with a bitter aftertaste because it's not the World Cup title they've won.
That opportunity has already been and gone. That title belongs to the Kiwis until the next World Cup.
Since New Zealanders apparently spend 25% of their leisure time watching television and spend almost as much time as the French eating and drinking, I won't buck the trend.
I'll order pizza and pull up a pew in front of the box to cheer on the Kiwi league team (who haven't won the Anzac test in the past seven years).
But it's more than just a game - it's about egging on our boys to fight for fush n chups, Crowded House, Russell Crowe and Robbie Deans.
Heck, I'll even claim Steve Price as ours if the Kiwis win. Hang on . . . we already do.
