Let me begin by mentioning Spiro’s article from Monday morning titled, “Are the Wallabies on the rise as the All Blacks decline?”.
It was a very rational piece, posing some interesting thoughts and questions in an attempt to answer both of those questions, but merely thinking about the types of comments it would receive from both sides of the pond left me wondering if they would achieve the same sense of rationality.
There are fans on all over the world who get spikey when long-term questions are raised in the immediate aftermath of an individual match. A reaction I totally understand.
In law there is the notion of ‘generality’; that it should respond to a general state of affairs and not individual events. It is a sound principle and one that politicians should perhaps aspire to more appropriately, but that’s another article for another site.
It is, however, not these questions that I want to address, but more so the response to the attitude that we have seen from the Australian media, fans and the players themselves. It’s the excitement, the joy, the delight in seeing our team get one over the old foe and explaining why it may seem a touch overdone to others.
The neutral observer can be forgiven for thinking the Wallabies won the World Cup.
The Wallaby fan can be forgiven for celebrating as hard as the players at home, pub or secretly watching under the table at the in-laws’.
The New Zealand fan can be forgiven for thinking that it was a serious over-reaction to a one-off game which proves nothing.
But it needs to be understood for what it was. Relief.
I’ve seen comments from some All Black supporters in all forms of social media rightly put their trans-Tasman cousins in their place by providing figures which prove that this win should mean nothing.
I’ve seen comments from Wallaby supporters refuse to get excited because this win does mean nothing. Michael Cheika tried ‘unconvincingly’ to tell us that he wasn’t getting ahead of himself despite the fact I’m sure he was cheering inside.
Most people are looking at it the wrong way, though.
For the New Zealand fans and players, this win changes nothing about your place at the top just as the reaction shows nothing but respect for what your team has achieved.
The elation, the hugging, the fist-pumping, the groping and dry-rooting from the players is generated by the fact that the All Blacks have been that good, for that long, that it means that much.
People immediately looked at it like an example of churlish arrogance when in my personal opinion it’s the ultimate sign of humbleness. By wearing their hearts on their sleeves in the way that they did, the players were admitting that they have been seriously inferior and we’re not afraid to revel in even the smallest of victories.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
This wasn’t the reaction of a team who felt like they deserved the win necessarily, but just that they had earned it. Not many could deny this emotion.
For the Australian fans and players this win doesn’t bring us the Cup or change the history of shellackings we’ve received recently, but it does mean something.
It means that coupled with a decent turn out in Dunedin and Bloemfontein, there has been a steady build-up in ability and confidence and a win was the perfect way to make that mean more than just a one-off.
Wallabies fans are sick on one-offs. We know this is a short-term feeling.
We’re sick of hope too. Hope hasn’t done us any favours recently. But it did on Saturday night. It made it feel good and it was an enormous relief to start the “How many days since we beat the All Blacks” calendar again.
One thing that All Black fans should understand more is what it feels like to have to celebrate the little wins like they are the big things.
New Zealand sports fans have had their fair share of this over the years and relied on the ‘David versus Goliath’ mentality and they’ve had some epic moments to savour as a result, consistently out-doing themselves in the sporting arena against international heavyweights.
This one is our version. Hopefully, it means we can bring the gap closer together and we can enjoy another one in less than 512 days.
I’ll take this one.
Steve Wright
Guest
At the risk of seeming grossly cynical, and having been a spectator for over 60 years, I sometimes get the feeling that a game like this gets thrown occasionally - gives the underdog a glimmer - after all they're probably quite decent chaps- but the record remains substantially intact.
Steve Wright
Guest
Have you noticed, among other things, that there's a difference between 5 and 15?
taylorman
Roar Guru
Third? Yep, but dont watch it a 4th time chook, the ABs dont knock on at the end, score, and win that one.?
mtiger
Guest
That's over 22 months ago. Hansen knows how to make the team solid. ABs missed Retallick. and ABs missed Barrett, to the extent which they played. Barrett made Mckenzie's attacks threatening. But without Barrett in support, other fullbacks are more fearsome than Mckenzie.
mtiger
Guest
If WBs have Reece Hodge at 10, maybe WBs can improve, and more. Knocking Foley off is valid. even if it still means no Cooper. Foley is bland, you can put any other kicker at 10, and Hodge has shown that he can do that, if bland is the taste you want. WBs should move on from Foley.
mtiger
Guest
It should be. In recent history, Allblacks is number 1 team. If opposition is not elated, the opposition does not need to turn up. Bodies hurt when the match is played. Players were out of breath. Allow them that celebration. Still much to do, and ABs team that went to play wasn't playing in RWC final
Taylorman
Guest
Sure there is no guarantee of that but because the ABs always do end up dominating at some point they will continue to. Only weeks ago everyone here was saying how pointless it was playing NZ all the time, Oz should go it alone etc etc. A narrow win and its the ABs who have lost their aura. Very narrow thinking. Its not the loss of players thats made them vulnerable, its the additional impact of a 'sudden' loss of players, in some cases unexpected thats exposed them. They just need to work through that and increase the expectations of the newer players.
Ad-0
Guest
ABs are not the team that won WC2015. So in that sense they are on the decline. Any team that loses players of the stature of Carter and McCaw will be a worse team. A lot of the players that are still there have dipped and the new blood doesn't seem up to speed. A lot of kiwis seem to think its only a matter of time for the team to start dominating but there is no guarantee of that. The ABs of the past 10 years was one of the greatest sides in history. None of this will help the Wallabies because they should have enough for us 9 times out of 10. England on the other hand, might just have the team and the coach to rattle these guys.
ukkiwi
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure we'll ever know.
ukkiwi
Roar Rookie
Is your glass 1/2 empty Jerry? Haha
Morsie
Guest
Yes, the jersey is fantastic, something really representative, it would be GREAT if they would keep it. Even this older "privileged white male" loves it.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
We clicked and they faulted too many pretend ABs in that side . A few of them have been loafing on the few real ones for some time .
The OG AlBo
Roar Guru
Thanks 'Chook! (In my best Dame Edna) and thanks Sage. Just one of those bleedin' hearts that needs to put everything in perspective. :)
Sage
Roar Rookie
I would have if I'd recorded the f'en thing properly. Sat down to a much anticipated Sunday arvo viewing to find I had 5 minutes. I enjoyed your piece AlBo. A good insight to that win and what it means.
Phil
Guest
Nice to read an article that puts the win into perspective.I was very disappointed to read comments on other post game articles that still focused on knocking certain players,Foley in particular,instead of just rejoicing that we finally got a win over this wonderful team.Anyone who didn't think the AB's put everything into this "dead rubber"obviously didn't watch the game.
Machooka
Roar Guru
I love it.
Machooka
Roar Guru
I've got taped so as to do the same John R... ummm, is the ending still as good after the third viewing? :)
piru
Roar Rookie
Well I like it.
DaveR
Guest
KH, take your point, Whitelock was hardly visible to the coverage - but based on the stats a good effort. Reids effort - especially crucial offloads -was outstanding, although he was a little over-vigorous in the first 20 mins (2 penalties?). A great captains game and the disappointment showed at the end.
Mac
Guest
As mentioned in other comments, wait till the big boys are back. We won and that is fantastic. As a non fickle rugby supporter a win is a win and it is important. Would I love to see the Wallabies beat the AB's all ways, well no. I would like the stats to read in our favour though. But I also understand winning is many things in many variable conditions and that's what make Rugby something great. You these teams who lose say the pitch was terrible, well maybe so but the opponent played on it as well. Level playing. Well done Wallabies. Many more wins are coming but as we love to beat the All Black many countries love to try and beat us, so while we all have our say its best remembered that to many nations we are one of the Top targets. Be on guard always Wallabies, this is test rugby and we win some and we loose some. My only issue: Playing badly and loosing. I do believe you can play well and loose and that's a good game.