You don't often see men in rugby jerseys openly crying, but there have been two that come to mind recently.
First, Wallabies captain James Horwill celebrated their narrow win over the British and Irish Lions in the second test with full-on sobbing. These tears were probably brought on by the drama of the game, the enormity of the series, and the uncertainty surrounding the IRB appeal over the ''not guilty'' verdict he initially received for a stomping charge.
The second manly man to shed a tear in rugby was the coach of the Russian women's sevens team at the recent Rugby World Cup sevens. He was beside himself with emotion after his team shocked everyone on day one and beat England on Russian soil.
In broken English the coach explained that this was a great day for Russian rugby because it had beaten a team from England - the country where rugby was born.
Will Brian Evans, the coach of the Black Ferns, openly cry with pride and relief when the women in black finally break their losing streak against the England women's team in their three-test series starting on of July 13? I wouldn't hold it against him and would see it as a sign of passion and caring about the outcome if he did.
The feelings of these weepy coaches and players apply whenever anyone plays a rugby team representing England or Britain. There is something about that Empire that makes us all the more determined to beat them at their own game.
It is a feeling that is difficult to replicate when playing other teams, although playing Australia also tugs strongly at the national pride strings.
The recent French test series, though, didn't create the same emotion. Although there is a colourful history between the All Blacks and the French (especially at World Cups), their recent battles paled in comparison to the hype and history surrounding the Lions tour.
The close tussles between the Wallabies and the Lions in the first two tests has been so exhilarating that football-mad households have sat mesmerised around their screens late at night.
I know this for sure because my son's play date, who usually wears a Manchester United jersey, was suddenly talking about the British and Irish Lions and asking his parents for an oval rather than round ball.
With one win apiece, the scene is set for a great closer in Sydney on Saturday.
Horwill may have been crying because his chance to play in the final test against the Lions was under threat, but he'll now be crying tears of relief after the IRB appeal was not upheld. The final decision was made nine days after the initial verdict was given, after 12 hours of deliberation and after a two and a-half hour hearing.
Throughout this series and the drawn-out appeal process, Horwill has talked of the honour of captaining the Wallabies, pulling on the gold jersey, playing against the Lions, and of his desire to win the series and play in ''what is arguably the biggest game in this country since the Rugby World Cup final in 2003''.
One thing the Australians do well is up the ante when it comes to enthusiasm, passion and excitement around big sporting events. They did it at the Sydney Olympics, continue to do it during every State of Origin match, and the rugby union crowd hasn't let down their country either in a sea of vibrant red and gold for the first two Lions tests.
What a showdown there will be this weekend. I missed the 2005 Lions tour while away touring with the Black Ferns, so I'm soaking up the atmosphere from afar and I'm still not sure who I'll be cheering for.
Who will you cheer for - the Lions or the Wallabies?
