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.
Denne historien er fra November 22, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra November 22, 2020-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
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Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.