Space Ain’t the All Blacks Final Frontier

The euphoria and sense of accomplishment has reverted to type – and I am – as we now stand on the precipice of a moment that has been 24 years in the making; will be some 80 minutes in the baking, with the fruits of this labour, providing fodder and good times, lasting four more years.

Just ask George!

I am sure we are all familiar with the French obsession. Their playing ascension has punctuated our history and our hearts, deflating our rugby futures, which have been farewelled after the on field activities have ceased, and we have been sunk.

Way to lift the spirits, iamjonnyking.

Thankfully, history is not a ghetto-blaster stuck on repeat, and even if we do want to get all 80’s about it; we can point to the last time we played the French at such a juncture, in such an event, with such familiar environs. Yes, the frequent refrains of 1987 should pop your white collar with hope, even a little excitement, as we consider what could possibly happen next.

It only feels a little like *singing* yesterday when all our troubles seemed so far away *ahem*since we last met. September 24. Quite a night. The French were in white, but we would stand them up at the altar, bursting our way through to the tryline after an initial onslaught considered that they had come to more than merely play. It was McCawesome on this night, as our Captain raised his bat, becoming the first of two All Blacks to reach 100 caps in the famous and revered strip.

Warm fuzzies – Just about to hit a polar blitz.  While it is man-love inducing to continue this flow, there is business to complete, with certain death for one team on arrival.

Big-Bad-Bustling-Bruising-Behemoth, Brad Thorn, said it well when he reminded all in rasping distance – that voice – about the position the All Blacks now find themselves in. He effectively stated that we have not won anything... yet. There is one more battle. It will most likely feel like the war. There are no guarantees. The All Blacks must give with their rugby lives, by taking their opponents.

Then, a new narrative can finally begin.  Again. That Precipice.

In any analysis of this final test for 2011, one can easily double the take and re-make the foundations for the victory over the Jersey of Bling. It will not merely be a matter of playing it again, Aaron. Yes, you can put the same cassette tape into the Ghetto. But, this time we must pump up the volume. This is the All Blacks most important Test Match since last week, with a victory ending any debate.

We have encouraged and wanted to see an evident witness to the importance of composure in a knockout. But, now we need to repetitively roll out our R’s on this night. This is not to say that the following have not been significant, but it is to say that when the whistle blows; we must be more ruthless with our control and more relentless with its execution, than before.

We need to hit the French, even before they consider running, effectively ending their hope before it has begun.

One reason this is so, is that unlike many other sides, the French have the ability to rise to any occasion. One needs no greater example than in a certain quarter, where “the dark Shark,” Thierry Dusautoir, would make 38 monster tackles; two more than the entire All Black account on that grey day in Cardiff. There is a reason this is referenced with an almost revered inference. Dusautoir himself said that it took three days bed rest to right his ship.

This French team will be wearing numbers, but they have come to more than make up these numbers. They will be ready to raise their game; they will look to breed off any All Blacks mistakes or mis-steps. They want to be ones holding Big Will in the end.

Serious Times.

Fortunately our Boys are ready for one more with some serious measures. We have fought the good fight. We are about to finish this race. It is time for this team to reach their Summit.

Believe in Black. Never back off in your support, especially this Sunday 23rd October, 2011. 9pm, NZ Time. You only have one event diarised - BACKINGBLACK!

Let’s walk on and up, All Blacks nation. Our time is nigh – I think I can hear Sir Ed calling!

What Say You?

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking