“We were practising (the Eora version) during the week and our guys were – there was never a question – proud to have the opportunity to do it,” Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said post-match.
“I think it sounded pretty good, too. Wearing an Indigenous jersey and singing that in Aboriginal and then English, it was great and it was great to be a part of.”
Olivia Fox sings the national anthem at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday evening. Credit:Getty
Hooper was non-committal when asked if he would like the Eora part of the anthem to be sung at every Wallabies match, but if the reaction to Fox’s rendition is any guide, Rugby Australia should certainly consider it.
Players spent a number of hours during the week learning the words and did not hold back on the field.
Fox has performed the anthem before at Randwick matches at Coogee Oval and earlier this year did so at the launch of Australia’s First Nations jersey.
Inspirational Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley labelled Fox’s rendition “very, very impressive”, while former Wallabies star Matt Giteau applauded the Wallabies for taking the sport forward.
Australian netballer Kim Green went so far as saying: “This is the BEST Australian sporting moment I have ever seen.”
NSW cricketer Trent Copeland was bursting with pride when sharing his thoughts on the anthem, while another former Test cricketer in Ed Cowan wrote on Twitter: “Hoping we look back at this moment in years to come as one of the moments that we made a leap forward as a country.”
