Israel Folau looking unimpressed. As he should. Source: Getty Images
I WATCHED this year's State of Origin decider in a cosy Queenstown pub.
The Maroons were shooting for their eighth consecutive series victory. One Kiwi told me that was "a decent effort". His mate said it was "cute".
Why so condescending? They were comparing Queensland's monstrous winning streak to New Zealand's dominance in the Bledisloe Cup.
The Wallabies have now lost eleven consecutive Bledisloe series. ELEVEN.
It's the most humiliating, demoralising statistic in Australian sport. It makes the Aussies' performance in The Ashes look downright laudable. But the worst part is that nobody cares.
Will Genia was dejected after the loss in Wellington. Source: Getty Images
OK, Phil Kearns cares. The Fox Sports commentator was already sulking at half-time in the Wallabies' 27-16 loss last night, and rightly so.
Referee Jaco Peyper left every last skerrick of common sense in his Wellington hotel room before the game. He failed to award an early Australian try for no apparent reason, penalised the Wallabies for competing at the break-down (otherwise known as "playing rugby") and happened to be looking the other way when New Zealand decided some rules were optional.
Kearns was outraged. So was coach Ewen McKenzie after the game. Aussie fans, not so much.
It's like you guys don't give a ruck anymore.
Remember how you used to really, really hate this guy? Source: Getty Images
Attendance at the Bledisloe opener in Sydney last weekend was a measly 68,000. That's terrible for a fixture which has often sold out the 83,500 seat stadium.
Losing eleven series straight shouldn't make you abandon the sport, it should make you aggro. To give up and go home, or switch the TV to a different footy code, conforms to the biggest negative stereotype that Kiwis attach to Aussie supporters.
"Fair weather fans", they call you. They say you only give a damn about your national side when it's winning, whatever the sport.
There's clearly an element of truth in that criticism, and it's nothing to be proud of.
If the Wallabies fail to win back the Bledisloe Cup next year, they will equal the highest record of 12 consecutive series without victory. Your Kiwi mates will never let you live it down.
But that losing streak isn't the biggest embarrassment here. You are.
Fire up at @SamClench on Twitter. Or fire up at the referee. Just fire up at SOMETHING, dammit.
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