What would be worse than losing the Bledisloe Cup?

Umm.. a root canal would be worse. I think. Or would it? Ok. Two root canals would definitely be worse. Yeah definitely no doubt about it. Ohh... maybe.. two root canals and an anaesthic-free extraction by a clumsy dentist who doesn’t realise until your tooth’s in the bin and you’re spitting blood through a big gummy gap in your mouth that actually whoopsy daisiy he removed the wrong tooth! That would definitely be worse than losing the Bledisloe Cup

Or would it?

Hmmm ok. You know what would be worse than losing the Bledisloe Cup? Returning home from a relaxing holiday to discover that a storm has blown a hole in the roof and it’s flooded the lounge so everything is gonna smell like wet carpet for months. And not only that.. a bird has flown in the hole in the roof and it’s shat everywhere. And the storm’s caused a power cut which means all of the meat in the freezer has rotted. And all your friends and family are still on holiday so no one’s there to help with the clean up. And as you walk through the house and survey the damage you simultaneously stub your toe, bang your funny bone, and remember that you haven’t paid your insurance premium in the last six months. That situation would definitely be worse than losing the Bledisloe Cup.

I think. Ok. You know what would be worse than losing the Bledisloe Cup? Losing the Bledisloe Cup. At home. For the first loss in however long at Eden Park. Going down against a resurgent Wallabies team that doesn’t give two hoots that their star back is embroiled in a legal battle with the Australian Rugby Union and a huge public controversy. Izzy Gonna be missed? I don’t think so! And all just a matter of weeks before everyone flies off to the World Cup. Yeah, that would be worse than simply losing the Bledisloe Cup. 

Except we haven’t lost it yet. And even if we do lose it. Even if we lose this close to a World Cup, with all the history at Eden Park, and all of the drama over Israel Folau, and all of the beef between Michael Cheika and Steve Hanson.. we will lose knowing that sometimes sporting results don’t go the way we want them to, and there are much bigger and more important things in this World.

So let’s stop catastrophising. Let’s get excited, instead of anxious.

And instead of focusing on what might happen tonight or indeed at the Rugby World Cup if the All Blacks lose... let’s focus on how it might feel when they win.