For some peculiar reason, laughter was conspicuous by its absence. The only noise detectable across the airwaves was the dull splat of a failed punchline landing on stony ground.
New Zealand rugby folk, who make up 99.999 per cent recurring of the population, are not accustomed to finishing second more than once in a blue moon and regard consecutive defeats as an assault on the natural order of things.
Before last weekend’s startling loss to Argentina in Sydney, they had not suffered such an affront to their dignity in almost a decade.
Given the level of expectation and assumption, 1998 came as a terrible shock. It may be remembered up here in Blighty as the year of England’s “tour of hell”, but it was the All Blacks who found themselves in the foulest smelling circle of Hades.
Between mid-July and late August, they lost two games to the Springboks, the first of them in Wellington, and three times to the Wallabies, the second of them in Christchurch. Talk about the Grim Reaper wielding his scythe.
Even those ageing souls who had lived through a six-match run of reverses half a century earlier agreed that the events of ’98 were worse.
Back in 1949, the New Zealanders lost four Tests against the Boks in South Africa and two against the Australians at home. But as those series were played simultaneously, the outcome was not entirely surprising.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of Englandâs autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwickâs team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is âmessing aroundâ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group arenât even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthillâs leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Riggâs ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.