Wellington — Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has showed sporting relationships between Australia and New Zealand are more cordial than they may seem by becoming engaged to New Zealand netballer Maria Tutaia.
Trans-Tasman relations had another setback after Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test in Auckland, won 37-10 by New Zealand.
Australia's coach Michael Cheika used a post-match news conference to unfurl a list of grievances about the All Blacks, including the charge that they didn't invite the Australians to share a beer after the match.
Cheika was particularly incensed by a cartoon which appeared in the New Zealand Herald newspaper which depicted him as a clown.
But Folau and Tutaia have transcended that division, choosing the day after the match to announce their engagement.