What's behind the Australia / New Zealand rivalry?

Chael Sonnen shares insights form his travel to Australia.

[nibloe]

It’s not a real rivalry, it’s certainly just more of a sporting rivalry really. We compete fiercely on the field but there is no hatred towards each other. It’s hard to hate each other after we fought side by side as the ANZACS (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) during WWI.

[mephstv]

Gets on an 18 hour flight. Watches a show called crashing....

[YodasChode]

Chael, if you are reading this. Did the Nogueira brothers try to feed the bus a carrot?

[jacobbarling]

We are bonded by the ANZAC spirit (look up ANZAC) and geography... But love to take the piss out of each other and beat each other particularly in the Rugby. Outside of Rugby Aussies will support Kiwis in other sports...

[kryterz]

As an Australian, you are on point. We are brothers, but we like to compete to better ourselves. Iron sharpens iron.

[syncrestart]

Rugby is a huge part of the rivalry Chael!

[BenDover-zymv]

Pilot: we are going to have to make a crash landing in the ocean
Everyone: OMG WE'RE GOING TO DIE
Chael: Ok Great

[licmysak]

didn’t they ban all guns in Australia did you make it in?

[rickywatson]

Look up the underarm bowl incident in regards a game of cricket between New Zealand and Australia.

[meowmeowmeow]

Australia is a small island off the coast of New Zealand.

[mmayokai]

It finally happened. Chael met a boxer.

[DylzNZ]

Air hostess: sir this is kidnap

Chael: hold my camera

[jeffreysola]

Ah an Aussie (with a NZ fiancé), I can confirm Chael is spot on here. It’s just a friendly rivalry, big brother little brother sort of thing. Spot on analysis like always

[jordansinclair]

Aussies and Kiwis love each other, anything else is classic sporting rivalries or taking the piss

[MYTHBUSTERER]

Aussies invented the 'condom' using a section of sheep intestine to allow for safe sex. NZ refined the idea by removing it from the sheep Go Izzy!!!

[bluehornet]

Chael: So I ask this guy what day it is.
Guy: It's 4 days later.
Chael: Ok Great.

[samuelbullivant]

Nothing at all chael, at the end of the day we have a big bro little bro relationship, it’s all love fam
🇦🇺 🇳🇿

[lucastaylor]

Tony Ferguson is the type of guy to bring Australia and New Zealand together

[JWIA]

Australia and NZ is like USA/Canada or India/Sri Lanka, big brother little brother etc. Plus both countries play pretty much the same sports that aren't big in North America or Europe like Rugby, Cricket etc and are the top ranked sides in those respective sports and controversy has occurred in those sports over the years

[hubobubo]

Yeah it is not a bitter rivalry. It is a energetic and extremely well practiced rivalry.

You need to understand, we are in Asia.

We play the same sports as New Zealand and we both speak English. The next closest sizable nations are Indonesia, Malaysia Vietnam ect. We don't speak the same language as them and we don't play the same sports.

Due to our isolation, at every level of every sport Australia and New Zealand compete against each other more than anyone else.