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The best thing that could happen in the first Bledisloe Cup fixture is a loss for the All Blacks. Or a win for the Wallabies, the same, but different. The ABs could choke it up in the last 20, ergo lose, or the Wallabies could pull a massive hat rabbit and beat up their opposition, therefore win.Ìý

The best thing meaning the best way to pump some blood through the veins of the age-old encounter. It would be a marketing dream. It would bring a much-needed story line. It would bring fear, jeopardy, self-doubt and all those other triggering emotions. It would sell the game, it would provide story threads desperately needed for what was once a rugby highlight. Ìý

The fact that the Bledisloe Cup is all the All Blacks have left in their trophy cabinet is a good way to generate fascination, but that will only gain real traction if this evening’s game goes the way of the Ockers.Ìý

Only then will we get the simultaneous energy of potential and desperation.Ìý

Maybe then we’d get a skerrick of emotion from both teams. Ìý

It’s a shame to wish ill upon the national side just to elicit genuine emotion and vibrant narratives, but frankly, it’s come to that.Ìý

The best we’ve had this week is 2 captains, one saying he’d hate to be the captain responsible for losing the Cup and the other saying the game represents a great opportunity.Ìý

Really? Wow, I’d never have guessed. Hold the phone, stop the press. Sensational. Ìý

What else have you got? A game of two halves? Full credit to the opposition? Learnings? Moving forward? Process? Ìý

Bring on a loss, let’s generate some bloody emotion! Ìý

But it’s the All Blacks. It’s rugby. It’s probably asking too much.Ìý

I’ll get my coat.Ìý