I’m an All Black supporter and I’m feeling sorry for myself.
All we’ve heard in recent times is the constant carping about the dire state of rugby in the Republic of South Africa and the never-to-be republic of Australia.
But has anyone spared a thought for the plight of All Black fans?
As much as we live to see the men in black prevail against the Wallabies and the Boks, we’re now feeling a bit robbed of the once-epic contest.
We’re yearning for the good old days when Test matches between the Southern Hemisphere titans did justice to the term. When they were the ultimate tectonic, blood and thunder affairs that only revealed the victor (admittedly more often than not with a Silver Fern over his heart) mere moments from the final whistle.
And sometimes, on those rarest of blue moon occasions, the All Black fans’ team would actually end up not winning.
Yes, it seems scarcely conceivable now, but once upon a time, the All Blacks would actually lose these games.
Such hen’s teeth occurrences forced All Black fans to endure scenes of gold or green-shirted blokes jumping into each others’ arms after the final hooter.
The Land of the Long White Cloud plunged into darkness for days as its people moved slowly through the four stages of loss, typically only finding acceptance when their team won again.
History tells us that the All Blacks lost one of these matches as recent as August last year.
It seems like an aeon ago.
The genuine contest that All Black fans once cherished, has drained from clashes with the Wallabies and Boks at an alarming rate.
We now find ourselves, ‘building up’ to the first Test of the year between the All Blacks and the Springboks that’s nudging death and taxes in the foregone conclusion stakes.
In years gone by the air would crackle with anticipation in the lead-up to such a heavyweight bout.
The two combatants, with genuine respect, would trot out the usual platitudes extolling the other’s worth. But it would be muted, through barely concealed gritted teeth.
Contrast this week in Christchurch where Springboks Assistant Coach Johan van Graan was falling over himself congratulating the All Blacks on being so “fantastic”.
“They’re a fantastic team… they’ve got fantastic set pieces.. .no apparent weaknesses, fantastic rugby. They’re a fantastic rugby nation… they’ve got a fantastic coaching staff that are very good friends of ours,” van Graan said.
Complimenting quality is one thing but van Graan also claimed “It’s not only necessarily about the result. Shake hands afterward, look your opposition coach and player in the eye, have a beer, say ‘well done’.”
Lovely sentiment, but an All Black v Springbok Test that’s “not necessarily about the result”? Deary me.
Meanwhile, All Black ironman Jerome Kaino was at pains to point out how “tight” it’s been in recent matches against the Boks and how he is expecting the same on Saturday.
That he felt compelled to say it won’t be a thrashing speaks volumes.
Certainly, former Springbok coaches Nick Mallet and Jake White don’t share Kaino’s optimism.
Mallett called the Springboks a “B division” side , their capability compared to the All Blacks “like night and day.”
Taking a more holistic view, White feared South Africa’s fearsome rugby reputation could be lost forever unless changes are made to their systems.
The World Cup-winning coach said South Africa’s Currie Cup domestic competition is a shadow of its former self as the exodus of quality players to European clubs – departing the weak Rand for strong Euros and Pounds – continues unabated.
He also bemoaned the lack of succession planning at the helm of the Springboks, with no overlap or handover from one coach to the next, in sharp contrast to New Zealand.
Current Springbok gaffer Allister Coetzee was handed the role rather than it being open for applicants, White claimed. “Then they gave him his coaching staff without asking him to pick who he wanted. There’s no other job he’s competing against that is the same.”
The subtext here is that the controversial racial quota system is a key factor in leading South African rugby in a flight to mediocrity.
Australian rugby is also withering from the grass roots up with a flawed strategy of national conquest stretching it’s talent base too far and thin across five Super teams. Meanwhile, shoring up lost causes in Perth and Melbourne is taking the ARU’s eye off the ball as the likes of the marauding AFL gouges future Wallabies from under its nose in the Sydney and Brisbane heartlands.
But boo bloody hoo.
While you’re all busy shooting yourselves in the foot, the New Zealand Rugby Union continues to set the gold standard of how to run rugby on and off the field. But where does that leave the poor old All Black fan?
Mere bystanders as they collect a seemingly endless streak of wins against the Wallabies and the Boks in increasingly hollow encounters. Pining for the days when the contest wasn’t over before it begun.
Ronaldo
Guest
Graeme Henry recently said that this is the worst Wallaby side he has ever seen & that he is worried about the future of the game. I made a comment on the pages after the recent Sydney debacle that we shoul get used to the decline of Rugby in Austalia. The inability of the Rugby administrators in Austalia to come to grips with the decline of the grass roots meant that this state of affairs was unlikely to be addressed & that Rugby would wither as the fourth ranked football code. Witness the emergence of the Western Sydney Giants Aussie Rules outfit. They gave the high flying Swans a lesson last week & seem to be the favorites to ake out the AFL premiership this year. This is but a fledgling team & though it has it's share of marquee top ups it is largely reliant on young players that have been born of the activities within western Sydney. These young athletes have been lost to Rugby. I once used to be a rabid fan of the Wallabies arguing that they could beat the best on their day but I no longer feel that this is realistic. I, like many of my old Rugby mates have no expectation that there will be a Wallaby victory whenever we play the All Blacks. So there is not much excitement before such clashes. My Kiwi mates don't even bother to text me smart arse comments whenever a match is in progress any more. It's a shame really isn't it? St Leonard's has much to answer for!! I add my routine congratulations to Shag & his team. Well done!! You are too good for us.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
The Aussies understand that as well at the moment.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
I guess it would help Australia if they won something of note occasionally other than netball but I personally do not want it to be at the expense of the mighty ABs. Perhaps if they took after the yanks and organised a World Series of "rules" I guess they could always select a few more kiwis in their team that might help.
dubaikiwi
Guest
Is their such a programme, why would it be on Aus tv, and why would anyone watch it.
Scot Free
Guest
Do not fear. After The Darkness a new day will dawn. ?
Republican
Guest
........disagree with Jetta, Goodes & Gary Abblet jnr but the talls could slot in maybe so very selectively. The reverse is probably lower than the 10% but I have seen a few Union players in my day, backs primarily, that would make the cut in the AFL, i.e. Larkham, Roff and Walker from the Brumbies.
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Just had a mental image of Cheika selecting the Wallabies 'Bachelor Style'. Red rose for you Mumm, Always a red rose for you Hoops, sorry Fards no rose for you this week.
Republican
Guest
Indeed. The Boks are a true Rugby nation - unlike us.
Republican
Guest
....why do we even get NZ television at all?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Bit more to the windies issues than their players chasing the dollar. Has a fair bit to do with their administration not knowing how to manage a dollar, their inter-state bickering getting in the way of combined action & a lack of attention to the grassroots development program. Actually sounds a lot like the ARU.
piru
Roar Rookie
Why do you watch The Housewives of Auckland?
piru
Roar Rookie
Don't forget that for all we malign it, the AFL does an amazing job at identifying and developing talent. There's a good chance, had these players played rugby, they'd be long suffering club level players denied a shot at the next level because someone's mate had a mortgage on the jersey. Or that they were picked for the Wallabies, moved out of position and then derided as not good enough because they failed to adjust quick enough.
Suzy Poison
Guest
Many a true word said in jest. When you are on top it's good to be the king. But be kind to others on the way up, and they will be kind to you on the way back down.
righteous
Guest
Funny with all the wins it's the losses that stand out Years may pass before i watch a loss after seeing it live, but when I do I'll concentrate so hard I'll get a raging headache. I haven't rewatched the last loss to england yet, I might do when I get home.
The Bush
Roar Guru
So in a country of 50m people (remember England, no the UK), of which you'd estimate half are men, ie 25m, you think there are 2.5m active rugby players in the UK (I'm assuming the women's numbers aren't substantial). In other words, you think that approximately 1 in 10 English males of all ages plays rugby? Those figures, with all due respect, are rubbish. As to the perception that rugby is "dying" in Australia, I don't know if it is "dying", but it is certainly contracting in profile compared to its position 10 or 15 years ago relative to other sports. The gold Powerade's used to be "Wallaby Gold". Wallabies used to be on Weatbix Boxes. Homebush used to sell out for All Blacks test matches. If Australian's can't see that rugby is struggling in this market place, they have their heads in the sand.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Which team gave you an understanding of losing? The All Blacks have never been a "losing team" ever. They've had brief periods of not being the best, i.e. number 2, but that's it. To the point of the article, I tend to agree. Johnno's point about the Aus Cricket Team apt. I lost interest at a certain point. Where's the excitement if you're expected to win in a canter. Then when you do randomly lose all you feel is a sort of strange disgust. Australia's fall from grace, including losses at home to South Africa, back to back losses in England, the nadir of a straight sets loss in India and then not winning a single test in the Ashes (ie 2013), reinvigorated my love of cricket. The bad/lean times are what makes you appreciate the good times. Personally, the best time to be a fan of your team is when they're on the rise or they're winning against the odds. Being a Reds fan in 2010 and 2011 was a great ride, one I don't think I've really every experience with any of my other teams. Perhaps it's that Australian obsession with the underdog, but I'd find being an All Blacks supporter boring personally.
Matt Porter
Guest
Impressive rant Colvin.
Matt Porter
Guest
Yes Wal I remember '98 v well, flagging in NZ with an Aussie, never heard the end of it.
Wal
Roar Guru
The top 10% of the AFL are players that if they had taken up union as a kid most would be Super 15 Level and above Buddy Franklin would make a pretty impressive 6 or 8 if he picked up a rugby ball at 4 years of age. So to for any of these guys in positions the ARu is struggling at present. Spider Everet - Lock Barry Hall - 6, 8 or Lock Adam Goodes @ 6 Lewis Jetta - 10 or 12 Gary Abblet Jnr at 10 You have to remember these guys are natural athletes to start with and if they chose Union all would have been a bit heavier but developed the skills neesscary to play top level union as well.
Wal
Roar Guru
Jeez I don't know Matt I am still discussing what was the Annus Horribilis 1998 every week with my therapist. It really is the sting of those losses and getting it thoroughly rubbed in my face by my Aussie friends, that prevents me from any form of over excitement when we are winning.