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I was sitting at home, channel-surfing one mid-spring day when I stopped on an episode of Family Guy, a show which draws a lot of its humour from cutaway gags that satirise America and pop culture.
This particular episode featured a cutaway gag parodying Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner from Looney Tunes.
The original segment typically played out, with Wile E. Coyote concocting an elaborate plan to catch the Road Runner using complex contraptions which would comically backfire, with the coyote falling prey to his own trap.
But in the Family Guy episode, the Road Runner finally succumbed to one of Wile E. Coyote’s traps.
Initially the coyote is euphoric; by killing the Road Runner he had finally achieved his ultimate goal.
But as the days turn into weeks, the glow of his achievement faded away and he was left with only emptiness. Without the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote had no direction or aspirations.
Since the dawn of professionalism the All Blacks have a winning record close to 85 per cent. If they are victorious at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, New Zealand rugby can claim superiority in all forms of the game.
Like the Road Runner, the William Webb Ellis trophy has been an elusive beast. But if the All Blacks retain the cup, they and New Zealand rugby may suffer a similar fate to Wile E. Coyote after the Road Runner met its demise.
A victory at the World Cup would result in country wide-celebrations, as the rugby public bask in the glow of their heroes’ achievement. But as the days turn into weeks, the inevitable question will have to be asked. Now what?
On the back of a successful Rugby World Cup campaign, international fixtures may struggle to hold the public’s interest, especially if All Black losses between World Cups remain nothing more than an aberration.
Like Wile E. Coyote, the All Blacks could become a victim of their own success.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.