I wasn't too fussed when the Canterbury Crusaders didn't win the Super 15 on Saturday night.
Lynch me if you will for not being a real New Zealander, and supporting the Crusaders, especially in The Year of The Quake.
But there's a trend for New Zealand to win a Super title in
a World Cup year, and then fail to win the cup.
The only team that has won a Super title and the World Cup in the same year is the Bulls, in 2007. So the Crusaders' failure means the All Blacks have one less reason why they might lose. Simplistic, I know, but we've got to grab any psychological advantage we can.
The selection of most of the Queensland Reds squad for the Tri Nations is also good news, given the Reds game plan seems to consist of hanging on by the skin of their teeth until one of their backs does something brilliant. In the cauldron of test rugby, that might not be enough. The Reds win did demonstrate though, how essential it is to have players who can stick to a conservative game plan, but break the first line of defence and create - and then finish - try-scoring opportunities.
The Blues and Crusaders created few of these opportunities against the Reds, and they lost.
It was left to Daniel Carter to conjure up the magic required for a five-pointer on Saturday night, something his outside backs were unable to do.
Here's another trend - the All Blacks have won the Tri Nations every World Cup year since the tournament's inception.
So how disappointed should we be if the All Blacks lose the Tri Nations? Not at all, I suggest.
When the All Blacks lose, it reduces the aura of expectation around the team, which bears way too much weight and expectation of the country on their shoulders.
If the expectation changes, surely that's good for the team, which is already dealing with the pressure of being the home side.
It may sound most un-Kiwi like, but losing is good.
Especially if it's before a World Cup tournament.
