All Blacks - pass the Kleenex

Just as South Africa dispatch England at the rugby world cup, despite some buttock-clenching moments where it seemed “Sweet Chariot” would be all over the 10 o’clock news, spare a thought for the Kiwis.

Favourite to win, despite having not won for 20 years, the New Zealanders were unceremoniously dumped from the competition by France at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. So shattered is the team’s collective ego, that they’re now being offered grief counselling - something that should be on the menu for Irish rugby team member and fan alike.

The New Zealand Rugby Union chairman, Jock Hobbs, has revealed that the unusual steps to restore confidence are already in place, adding that it is “imperative” that members of the side are “able to move on mentally”.

Skills coach Gilbert Enok is handing out the tea and sympathy in Auckland, and says that the counseling will be available for “as long as it takes”.

Cher once said that men should be like Kleenex: soft, strong and disposable. Seems the All Blacks have achieved all three.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=476&objectid=10471160