Steve Marshall: Horrible sense of déjà vu

opinion

By Steve Marshall

Published: 12:44PM Tuesday October 11, 2011 Source: ONE Sport

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  • Steve Marshall: Horrible sense of déjà vu  (Source: Photosport)
    Eight years on from the 2003 World Cup, Steve Marshall has a horrible sense of Déjà vu. - Source: Photosport

I dont like it.

I dont like it one bit.

Take this mornings front page headline in the Sydney Morning Herald for example:

HEEBIE-JEEBIE TIME IN THE LAND OF THE WORLD CUP

Theyre loving it the Aussies, feeding off the All Blacks track record of faltering, (they call it choking) in every World Cup since '87.

Ive got a horrible sense of Déjà vu.

Flash backs of 2003.

I remember the night well.

It was barmy evening in The Rocks tourist precinct near Sydneys Circular Quay.

The streets were blocked off for the ten thousand people whod flocked to the live outdoor TV screen for the cup clash.

The All Blacks had swept all before them in belligerent fashion and the Aussie fans expected the Wallabies to be just another casualty to the men in black.

And so did I, proudly wearing an All Blacks shirt in a sea of yellow and gold.

Well, we all know what happened next.

An intercept try, a few penalties, some dodgy ref calls and the Wallabies fans were back slapping me all the way out of The Rocks.

Dead man walking.

A walk of shame.

However you want to describe it, Ill certainly never forget that long walk and the days, weeks, months even years of Aussie ribbing that followed.

So, 8 years and numerous visits to a sports psychologist later, here we go again.

I cant walk through the ABC news room (TVNZs affiliate station here in Sydney) without the words 'All Blacks' and 'chokers' being spoken in the same sentence.

That same front page story I mentioned earlier, also carries an accompanying photo of Wallabies Quade Cooper and James OConnor in the pool.

Both are wearing mischievous grins like they know something we dont.

Dont like it, dont like it one bit.

To read more Steve Marshall opinion click here

Are you watching the All Blacks overseas? Email us your photos and videos of you watching the World Cup at locations around the world to onlinenews@tvnz.co.nz

 

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