To Choke, to have Choked or Choking is to lose one's composure and
fail to perform effectively in a critical situation.
In the
world of Rugby Union this term is commonly used during the Rugby World Cup in reference to the New Zealand
Rugby team or "All Blacks".
Choke 1 - 1991: Semi-final, Dublin, L 16-6
Aged team done in cold blood by Australia. David Campese's finest moment, with Tim Horan not far behind.
Choke 2 - 1995: Final, Johannesburg, L 15-12
Looked superb going into the final but failed to
fire against a Nelson Mandela-inspired South Africa. Then tried to blame a hotel waitress for poisoning them.
Choke 3 - 1999: Semi-final, London, L
43-31
Relied too heavily on Jonah Lomu to build a lead and were then blitzed by an inspired France in an epic at Twickenham.
Choke 4 - 2003: Semi-final,
Sydney, L
22-10
Stroppy and unapproachable for most of the tournament, New Zealand went into their shells and played like drains against Australia.
Choke
5 - 2007: Quarter-final, Cardiff, L 20-
18
Froze against a clever but hardly vintage
French side.
Big names failed to deliver, little leadership and tactically inept.