The_Alchemist
Super Anarchist
I just do not see how NZ can continue to compete in the AC after taking the defense offshore.
More than any other country, New Zealand’s effort has been a major source of national pride and government support. New Zealand has made a great deal of sacrifices and financial support to enable the team to compete over the years. The objective of all this is to win the cup and hold the defense at home. The whole country gets to celebrate and participate in the financial rewards. It is tiny New Zealand flexing it’s power amongst all the countries in the world. A significant accomplishment!
The taxpayers of NZ paid $250 million to host the last cup, but got cheated out of the tourism dollars and world acclaim because of Covid. The government offered another $99 million for this cup. All with the hopes of winning and hosting the cup. No one could even imagine the possibility of not hosting the cup.
After all of this support and expectations, the team tells the people of NZ that they will not defend the cup at home. All of the loyalty, support and trust has been thrown out the window in search of more money. Money that is only needed because of the rules that the team themselves wrote.
If NZ loses this next cup, who in NZ will ever trust or support the team for another run? The team can make as much promises as they want, but no one will ever trust them again. Even if they win, support for a team that is just NZ by name will dwindle very quickly. I doubt that the team will ever again gather the support they once had before deciding to take the cup offshore. We all know that in order for New Zealand to be competitive in the cup, it truly has to be a national effort.
It is really sad how quickly the team has thrown away all of the glory they have gained over the last couple of decades. The AC will survive, but unfortunately NZ will not be a part of it.
More than any other country, New Zealand’s effort has been a major source of national pride and government support. New Zealand has made a great deal of sacrifices and financial support to enable the team to compete over the years. The objective of all this is to win the cup and hold the defense at home. The whole country gets to celebrate and participate in the financial rewards. It is tiny New Zealand flexing it’s power amongst all the countries in the world. A significant accomplishment!
The taxpayers of NZ paid $250 million to host the last cup, but got cheated out of the tourism dollars and world acclaim because of Covid. The government offered another $99 million for this cup. All with the hopes of winning and hosting the cup. No one could even imagine the possibility of not hosting the cup.
After all of this support and expectations, the team tells the people of NZ that they will not defend the cup at home. All of the loyalty, support and trust has been thrown out the window in search of more money. Money that is only needed because of the rules that the team themselves wrote.
If NZ loses this next cup, who in NZ will ever trust or support the team for another run? The team can make as much promises as they want, but no one will ever trust them again. Even if they win, support for a team that is just NZ by name will dwindle very quickly. I doubt that the team will ever again gather the support they once had before deciding to take the cup offshore. We all know that in order for New Zealand to be competitive in the cup, it truly has to be a national effort.
It is really sad how quickly the team has thrown away all of the glory they have gained over the last couple of decades. The AC will survive, but unfortunately NZ will not be a part of it.