Serious question to the kiwi members of on here regarding the kiwi public: how do you expect people to react in the calamitous event that the Wallabies win? I remember reading in the past that people have turned pretty bitterly on the ABs upon their return, to the point where someone even spat at them after being knocked out of one RWC and another time when they had "losers" scrawled in red over their bags at the airport after another.
Given they're reigning champs, do you think people might take it a little better if they lose now?
Here's my take - not too dissimilar to what others have said.
The "true" rugby fans of this country will be deeply dissapointed but will take it on the chin.
The ones that will **** me off though are the "know-it-all", so called rugby fans of this country, which will tell you they always knew we were going to lose cause the ABs had done this or that wrong and it was obvious! I suspect those people, conciously or not, go into some kind of self protection mode where despite the dissapointment of losing at least the can take comfort in the "fact" that they were right and the selectors/coaches had it all wrong.
However, I think the answer to your question requires and understanding of what I think are the two main reasons the majority really want this win:
(1) I think people geniunely want a RWC winning send off for DC, McCaw, Nonu, Smith, & Woodcock (have I missed anyone?) and I think everyone feels they have earnt and are deserving of that send off. I think all NZ rugby fans have the expression of DC etched in their memories after the '07 loss, and really do not want to see that again.
(2) Perhaps more importnatnly, as u know whoever wins this game will become the most successful rugby nation of all time in RWCs. NZ rugby fans firmly believe we have earnt the ***le of worlds greatest team over the years, but this has never really been reflected in RWC performances. For quite a long time OZ and then SA had more RWC wins than us. It's been a tough pil to swallow for many AB fans, but a win here puts us on top of the world both now and over time.
So, if we dont win their will be great dissapointment due to (1), and genuine (sporting) pain and heartache due to (2) by a huge chunk of NZ. The later really will hurt, and that hurt will certainly be the driver for a great deal of tossers to come out of the woodwork. However, I actually think by and large the ABs will receive a pretty warm reception from most of NZ if we lose. To this point the ABs have played at times sensational rugby and couldnt really have done any more. If you look on this forum those that doubted the team or had criticsms to begin with have now by in large had to suck it up and accept the coaches actually had things right. Therefore, most who overly criticise if we lose will actually be full of it. The "true" fans I suspect will set asside their dissapointment, very begrudginly congratulate a world champion OZ side, and congratulate a NZ team that did all they could but didnt manage the win on the day.
Thats my take anyway. I'll be gutted, but I hope I'll deal with it with a bit of respect and dignity and I think the majority of NZ will too!!
