Like Dean Barker and his team onboard the Aotearoa, there is only one way for the All Blacks to go this weekend and that is down. An unfathomable comeback by Jimmy Spithill and team Oracle, left New Zealand reeling this morning as the nation prepares for a period of mourning and sorrow.
            What was shaping up to be a New Zealand win for the ages, was dramatically lost in the penultimate showdown between both vessels built specifically for the water. There was no aruguing that Larry Allison, multi-millionare and financial aid to team Oracle, and his team were able to provide the "technology" and groundbreaking equipment that would give the Oracle vessel sheer power and speed.
              As the two boats narrowed into the first marker, Dean Barker opted to take a similar approach to yesterday, when NZL lost both races. However, with our hearts firmly placed inside our rib-cages, it was hoped that Dean and his team had developed some new tactics comming in for their first tack. As the race continued, Oracle quickly drew away from the boat Aotearoa even after making a quick recovery from a brutal nose dive that threatened to "pull" the funding for the rest of the race.
               San Francisco Bath-house was open this morning to stream live-coverage of the race taking place in San Francisco yet despite a large turn-out of red socks, the boys were unable to pull through and bring home the coveted cup that has had the country in a stirrup for the past 17 days. Grnarls Barkley said in an interview this morning that "the race was some of the closest, fast-water encounters" he has seen since he began following the cup close to five years ago. And skipper Dean Barker (no relation) shared similar sentiments at a post-race interview: [the loss] "was hard to fathom... and hard to swallow" many critics have agreed that One Square Meals can be hard to indeed swallow and that water is encouraged to aid in digestion and absorbtion.
                 In what best sums up Dean's comments this morning was this closing statement "And to our most loyal supporters here in San Francisco, at home and around the world ... you'll never know what the support means to us. We gave it our absolute all. Thank you for the belief."
                  The metaphorical weight of a nation did ride on the team NZ boat and the team showed guts, determination and true grit amidst a truly exceptional American boat. Viewers around the world looked on as the team laid it "all on the table" and it is a reminder for us to keep our humility as we lock horns with nations that are further away than Australia and French-Samoa.
                  Now, as we look on to see a similar match-up between the All Blacks and Argentina this weekend. Playing at an obscure midday on Sunday, both teams are adament that they have prepared correctly. "We know what we have to do and it's matter of getting out there and putting 80 minutes of running rugby together" said Steve Hansen who used to play rugby but now coaches full time.
                  It will be difficult for the boys to keep their focus after their clash with the Springboks merely two weeks our junior. As the hill of Jo'Burg lies in the distance the NZ rugby side must mainting focus and keep in the now. The All Blacks have never lost to Argentina , and there is no reason for that to change on Sunday - even without Richie McCaw and Dan Carter. The absence of that once talismanic duo now no longer has the destabilising effect it once had.
Aaron Cruden is a more than capable stand-in at first five-eighth and the next cab off the rank, young Beauden Barrett, is also well on the way to achieving similar status.
Carter has now missed so many big games, the All Blacks have long ago figured out how to play without him. At No 7 Sam Cane remains a work in progress but there is no doubt the young man is heading in the right direction. He would have gained a lot from coming through a tough night at "Bleedin' Park" on the right side of the ledger. Both match-ups have been terrific for the modern on-looker and both teams display the linchpins that NZer live their lives by.