Editorial: Why did no one say there are two?

Telecom was ready to tell us what to do, or rather not to do, in the bedroom.

Adidas was happy to tell us we couldn't have the new All Blacks jersey at the same price as the rest of the world.

So why was there no one to tell us the trophy that hundreds of Western Bay rugby fans queued to have their photo taken with was not the original Webb Ellis Cup?

Since it emerged that the original was actually getting some repair work done in Ireland, Rugby World Cup organisers have revealed there are two William Webb Ellis Cups in existence.

Apparently, the one that was seen by those who got out of bed to greet it at the Cargo Shed at dawn that winter's day was a replica created in 1986.

"Equal in stature" are the words used by tournament organisers to describe the two trophies - one created in 1906 and the other in our lifetime.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden has been quoted as saying: "We are pleased to be able to reassure all those fans who turned up early in the morning around the country that the experience they had was genuine."

But was it genuine?

Or is this just part of the spin we're becoming so used to in the lead-up to the whistle being blown on September 9?

For some, the revelation it's a body double won't matter, given it's the trophy Richie McCaw will hold at the end of the day.

But I suspect for some, looking at a photo of themselves with it in years to come will be something like looking at a childhood photo of yourself on Santa's knee.

It was good at the time, but now we know the truth.

What I don't understand is the explanation that not making the distinction was for reasons of security.

Surely, stating the touring cup was not the one first named after rugby's inventor would have been a good thing.

Nothing says "don't go to the effort of taking to it with a hammer" like "we've got a better one hidden away anyway".

We'll never know if there still would have been the crowds to greet it, had the invitations to view it called it "one of the Webb Ellis Cups".

Just one thing's for sure: The start of the tournament can't come soon enough - bring on the voices of the commentators.

Anything to drone out the PR machines.

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