Chris Rattue: It was great - so let's have a bit of joy

COMMENT

A touring BBC journo - obviously desperate for news - interviewed me once on the comparison between rugby union and league in this country.

"Is it true," he asked, "that rugby is so critical to the feel-good factor in this nation that the Government is more likely to win an election after an All Black victory?"

So I spoke, as the world held its breath.

You might not win an election thanks to the All Blacks, I opined, but it would give you a much better chance of not losing it. How's that for clarity?

Having fudged the issue then, I'd have a clearer answer now, sort of.

Because when it comes to the All Blacks nowadays, we're apparently a nation of swinging voters, win or lose.

We used to ping the Welsh for claiming victory everywhere but on the scoreboard, but we now operate in reverse.

Who cares that the All Blacks won on the scoreboard because maaaate, our backline sucks and we'd have trouble getting go-forward in a Sherman tank.

Rugby is in the age of over-analysis, long-term strategies, World Cup obsession and the search for perfection - the end result being that the thrill of the sport often gets lost on the crowd.

There is so much footy to watch that we're spoiled by the choice. When was the last time New Zealand really celebrated a test victory?

Put it this way, I haven't found anyone leaping about screaming "we robbed the Boks in a great test finish".

The audience at Jade Stadium seemed just as unappreciative. And hey, I'm as guilty as the next punter. Victory just isn't enough any more.

First, a confession. You don't always get a decent gauge on crowd reaction from within a press box.

It's not a great place to soak up the atmosphere. The sound is muffled and after all, it's supposed to be a little sanctuary of objectivity (no correspondence thank you).

For those interested, press box highlights during this test included:

* Early speculation on who would be All Black of the Week - Keven Mealamu was mentioned.

* A South African journalist broke into his own Mexican wave as a likely Springbok attack took place before regaining his composure.

* Speculation that we, the rugby press, were part of a world record attempt to squeeze 85 people into a Jade Stadium cupboard.

* A halftime suggestion that Black Cap captain Stephen Fleming had drawn a very short straw in being asked to present the All Black of the Week award.

Back to the crowd.

From the moment South Africa scored their early try, they seemed bemused by the intense test battle.

There was an attempt at "black, black, black" which ended up in the red within 10 seconds.

And one bloke, quite reasonably, kept yelling at referee Andrew Cole to get the South African backs onside.

That was about it in the passion stakes.

Having conserved their energy through a draining test, the crowd did manage a decent roar for the superbly constructed final try, for which Carlos Spencer floated a brilliant pass under pressure that enabled Mils Muliaina and Doug Howlett to put the Boks away.

This magical moment has, of course, set off another round of introspection and collective muttering from an unimpressed nation.

When did we last really celebrate an All Black victory? We've been lucky before. Wales in 1978 and the Boks in 1981 - when Allan Hewson goaled a penalty four million light years into injury time in the flour bomb test - spring to mind.

We seemed better at celebrating back then.

After taking a battering from a sometimes brutal Bok side on Saturday night, the All Blacks held their nerve and created a winning try. It was a truly great moment in All Black history.