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Are the All Blacks still happy when they win?

29th August, 2018
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29th August, 2018
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Seeing the All Blacks continually winning has made me think of their supporters and how they feel about dominating world rugby. Do they leave the stadium feeling genuinely fulfilled, or is there a small dark corner of their soul that yearns for a time when they might lose?

I had a moment of inward reflection last week on my yoga mat (Springboks fans, I find this helps) when I sought out the emotions I feel supporting my teams. I found that hope is something that keeps me coming back, and I think it plays a significant role in the fulfilment you get when your team achieves something you were hoping for.

Hope is defined by Oxford as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen”. I’m wondering: if your team wins all the time, does this feeling diminish, and is something lost?

I’ve supported Manchester City all my life, even when they were in the third tier of English football. Thanks to a takeover in 2008 by Abu Dhabi United Group they are now one of the wealthiest and most successful clubs in the world.

To be honest, it’s reached a point where the 2-1 victories in the third tier against Gillingham and Macclesfield seem sweeter than the 6-1 wins of today because each win really meant something.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw

(AFP)

Now a victory against 90 per cent of the sides in the Premier League isn’t what I’m hoping for, because it’s almost expected, and you can bet some of the shine has come off.

The All Blacks have been number one on the world rankings for as long as I can remember. They’ve won the world cup three times and the Rugby Championship 15 times. They hold the record for most consecutive test wins at home with a 47-match winning streak. The expectation is that they’ll win.

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This is not a dig at the All Blacks or their fans. I respect the All Blacks’ success and admire how they play rugby. I’m genuinely keen to know what the fans think about this to see if it compares with my own experience with Manchester City – and I guess the hope I continually harbour for the Boks.

So this is a question to All Blacks fans: how do you feel when your team is winning all the time? Do you feel fulfilled, or has it reached a point where you want some hope back?

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