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.
kezablonde
Guest
point taken ...got a bit eratic. signed X
Bobby fizzicola
Guest
You forgot to mention Steven Luatua. I expect him to be fired up for the next season too. The Blues backroad is well stocked with players like Karpik coming through too.
Lee
Guest
Oh jeez Keza- don't go there mate. Don't go there. That's like calling up Voldemort.... Baaaad juju.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Haha! TM, I had an older brother and sister, I was the baby and the spoilt one .. AND, I loved it that way!... never had anyone really to fight with at home so I got into plenty of scraps away from home, defending my heritage!... Haha! ... errr got to concede, lost a few too!!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
and remember Patrick Tuipulotu who is 22 going on 23 ain't going anywhere then the Ioane boys, yeah, I think we will be OK. That's without the guys in England ,,, might take a couple of games for combinations to improve but the AB's will be OK!
Muzzo
Guest
Oh dear me Rugby Tragic, I was there at Carisbrook for the First test, sitting on the planks, with the rest of my school mates.That was the test that we won 10 - 6, with Ron Jarden, who played in all four tests, scoring a wonderful try, that day. , Can always remember, the South African winger Van Vollenhoven, making a couple of runs down the sideline that day, & I, still to this day, swear I've never seen someone so fast. But I was only a youngster then. In regards to Peter Jones, I can remember the national outcry, when in his after match statement, he said on radio that "He was absolutely buggered". Not the thing to say in those days. lol. From memory, I think Carisbook that day, had a crowd of about 50,000
wardad
Guest
But of course DC is superior ,Marvel being the younger spoiled brother to the older smarter original . And Stan Lee ripped off Jack Kirby !
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Danger mouse... we will be OK ... have you looked at the depth we have.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Muzzo,,, I was there! That was the very first test I attended. I was just a kid then and of course it was 'standing room only on the hill'. I did not see a lot of the match as I was relatively short and the crowd around me was much, much taller. But I was excited to be there in that atmosphere. It had me hooked ... and still am!
wardad
Guest
Dont forget Ardie Savea !
Leister Stewart
Guest
Graeme did you read in that book the meaning of the new formation of the Haka?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yep I'm familiar with the series and that Bok tour. Have seen footage of the jones try and it was a lot faster than I'd thought...he was quick for big no.8... For those days anyway.
Gazzatron
Guest
They might have replacements but they have some pretty big boots to fill. I've been pretty excited about next year, even more than the world cup. Will Cruden come back from injury well and take the 10 jersey? Who will replace Nonu and Smith? Can Fekitoa step up? Moala? Ngatai? Will Cane step into McCaws 7 jersey and take ownership or will he get overtaken by Ardie Savea after the Olympics? Will Rene Ranger force his way back in? Tuipolotu and Luatua to come back from injury and perhaps a few young guns burst on the scene ala Skudder? There's just so much to be pumped about for next year and beyond. I know the AB's have a cup to win but I can't help be excited about next year and the mystery it holds!!
Muzzo
Guest
And would you believe, Taylorman, that was the last test at Eden Park that year, with a sell out crowd of over 60,000. We did win that series 3-1, with the score in that test, thanks to North Auckland's Peter Jones, was 11-5. In truth, though, that team that was managed by the immortal, Dr. Danie Craven was possibly, one of the great Springbok teams to visit New Zealand.
Taylorman
Guest
A full blown picture of Peter Jones bursting to the line would have stood out proudly I'll bet...what a try!
Graeme
Guest
You could do worse than read Legacy by James Kerr to get some insight into the ABs internal motivation mechanisms
wardad
Guest
Crumbs DM I dont think the ABS would go to pieces ala' Penfold AKA 'the Jigsaw "
kiwihaydn
Guest
For me the ultimate goal for the ABs is and always will be perfection. It's the thing that drives them on despite their unprecedented winning record. Win this World Cup and they will keep looking at how they can improve, how they can tweak their style to adapt to new rule changes and continue to stay ahead of the pack. For me it's not about the winning (which is easy to say on the back of a pretty amazing 8 years), it's about the way they continually look to improve - to play complete rugby.
Muzzo
Guest
Great memories of the old scrapbook Rugby Tragic, as my first was the 1956 tour of the Springbok's. I can always re member darn near filling it, after the Bok's lost their game to Waikato, rushing around getting all the clippings out of the Otago Daily Time's & the Star. In that game, the Bok's had a trophy head of a Springbok, to be presented to the first provincial team that beat them, so hence, it was Waikato. This would be something that would be certainly frowned upon, in this day & age. Well for starters, custom regulations would be far to strict.
David
Guest
Agreed, no country goes into a match against the AB's "expecting" to win. There is no pressure there. However the AB's are always expected to win.