Aisle be Back: One week to the start of the Rugby World Cup

• By Kevin McCarthy

The All Blacks are now I believe in  Germany. So, let’s start with that most German of words, Zeitgeist. Or to simplify it, let’s just call it the vibe.

How’s your vibe after that two hour torture show on Saturday?  When the All Blacks suffered their worst ever loss, and to the old foe, even worse.

The national vibe to me seems all over the place. Everyone seems to acknowledge the Boks were far superior, particularly up front.

After that it all seems to fracture. Some wanted to talk about the over officious reffing and the TMO interference. Others were distracted by the validity or otherwise of the Scott Barrett red.

For some the All  Blacks were rusty, or less switched on for the game because they’re in a less challenging group than the Boks. Some pointed to the staunch 25 minutes of defence. Some hope for Shannon Frizzell.

If I was true to my mantra, it would be that this was a pre-season match and not to be taken as a serious guide.

I don’t listen to talkback radio, so not sure of the vibe there.

But I am sure that an All Black team that had just set another historic first like this in the old days would have been wise to peruse the situations vacant columns in the Australian outback.

Instead, there’s probably a mix in the public of horror and resignation. Acceptance even that this is as good as, or rather bad as, it’s going to get.

The media are, rather like the Homer Simpson meme of his retreating backwards into a hedgerow, talking about a misguided narrative that the All Blacks this year were restored and serious contenders. Well, I didn’t drink that Kool-Aid.

Credit to the side for areas they have improved. No credit to them for still being undone by rush defences, and still struggling to problem solve mid-game.

In that respect, it would seem the All Blacks can be contenders still, If we get a free flowing ref, if we get teams that don’t strangle our quick ball. If all that happens in three consecutive huge matches.

Sadly, a fair few fans, like Roger Whittaker, don’t believe in if anymore. Very happy to be proved wrong of course.

There will be a staunch reaction from the side, they will be much better against France first up.

It’s just that the nagging stress fractures exposed by Ireland a little over a year ago evidently remain.

Except that time has run out.

There’s always talk of the plan and working towards it. I just have this nightmare that the All Blacks 2023 campaign may already be like Yevgeny Prigozhin’s private jet. Sans wings, and the only thing to do on the way down is to quickly read the evacuation card in the pocket in front of you.

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The bucket heads take the prize for NPC thrills this week. Manawatu of course ended a very long drought in beating Auckland at Eden Park.  As the Lions know from earlier this year, the Turbos are made of stern stuff.

The Lions of course produced a cracking end as well, but then we kind of expect them to roll Canterbury right now.

In a miserable weekend, two bright spots.