The Strangest Thing

There has been a lot of talk about the Eden Park streak over the last week, before slipping into hyperbole mode this week.

That is odd because it is seriously meaningless.  At best it served a purpose in 2011 (thank you Craig) but New Zealand is unlikely to ever host a Rugby World Cup final again.

But the hype around it making it out to be important is quite something.

Here is Newstalk ZB making it all about the streak whereas the world’s two best teams might, and a Rugby Championship might be slightly more important.  Weird.  All the names you can trust.

Then there was Stephen Donald on the Breakdown with an explainer.  “Our whole rugby year has been focussed around the record at Eden Park”

Sure it’s Donald, and sure it’s the Breakdown but seriously?  If that’s the focus, then that is worryingly off track.

Naturally this guy piped up and joined the party.

During this 30 year period the Springboks have been the opposition only five times, and not since 2013.  The Boks have won two World Cups in that time.

Then, bizarrely, there was this poll.

People seem to have fallen for the hype for something that really counts for nothing.

Good luck to the All Blacks this weekend.  But given a 1-1 result is quite probable, it really does not matter where the loss happens.