Take a deep breath. Take a step back. If ever a team was set up for a fall, it would have to be the All Blacks 2015 World Cup team.

Sunday night's team announcement at the Beehive was completely over the top. Let's get a grip. We love the All Blacks. I love the All Blacks and spend way more time than is healthy studying all things rugby. But a national announcement from the home of our government? If we had been declaring war on Australia, then yes, it would have been appropriate. But naming a sports team?

They're guilty of it on all sides of the house - there's nothing more distasteful than politicians cosying up to our top sports people for photo ops. It's a cynical greasy way of trying to buy some sort of reflected glory. How many politicians are interested in former US Open champion Michael Campbell these days? He serves them no purpose now and the fair weather friends have moved on to the next big thing.

The All Whites squad was named on sunday. Okay, they're small fry in terms of world ranking and they're not heading to a World Cup. But it's the world game, and for most, the story just drifted by. For all that, the biggest point of interest in that would be if they actually named a squad that was completely eligible to represent New Zealand! Maybe their squad should be named at Internal Affairs so they can check the passports as their names are read out?!

The choice of venue was a big error in judgement by the NZRU. The haters are gonna hate, and using the Beehive as the venue for the squad naming will underline the prejudices many of the non-rugby community will feel towards our national game. If in the horrific event of the All Blacks failing to win back the Sonny Bill Webb Andy Ellis Cup, many cynical fans will justifiably point to the complete loss of perspective.

This is no way a criticism of the team itself, or it's management - I'm pointing the finger at the Kremlin (NZRU offices). They should have learnt from history. Former coach John Hart was shocked at the over the top painting up of an Air New Zealand plane ahead of the '99 world cup.

If the NZRU was serious about the All Blacks being a team of the people (and I'm sure they are), then how much more appropriate would it have been to jump on buses and head over the hill the Masterton to name the team in a local Rugby Club ? It still would have been a special occasion.

For many of us, sport offers a wonderful distraction away from the drudgery of politics. It's hard to imagine a worse venue for a world cup team naming than the Beehive.

Keep it real. Keep it grounded! Bring on the the rugby!

@BrianAshby2