Will All Blacks buckle under ‘wait’ of a nation?

New Zealand’s rugby world cup torment is the subject of a new clothing brand which launches today to coincide with the All Blacks’ customary between-world-cups peak.

Wait of a Nation t-shirts are being marketed via a website of the same name to help nervous kiwis obsess about the potential calamity of the upcoming world cup in New Zealand.

Brand developer, Eammon Conaghan, said that with the All Blacks cruising to their 15th straight victory on the weekend, now was the perfect time to buy a shirt and start panicking.

” We haven’t had the chance to capitulate at home since the first World Cup  ”

“Nothing makes kiwis more nervous than when things are going well,” he said.

“Wait of a Nation is here to help prod at the mental scars from past tournaments and to dwell on the mounting pressure of the next one.”

Besides merchandise, the website takes an irreverent look at the history of the world cup, the All Blacks and the main contenders for the 2011 title. It also features a blog that comments on breaking rugby news and provides a weekly condemnation of the Wallabies.

Conaghan says hosting the 2011 world cup presents a significant opportunity for New Zealand rugby.

“We haven’t had the chance to capitulate at home since the first world cup in 1987,” he said

“Back then, we botched it by winning in a canter. Finally we have a chance to wrong the glorious rights of that inaugural competition.”

Although Wait of a Nation was made for All Black fans, Conaghan said he hoped it would also be popular with followers of rival teams.

“Anything to do with All Black agony will be popular with foes, whether we want them or not. Wherever there’s a festering wound, there will be maggots wriggling in exaltation.

“But far from begrudging them, we embrace them. New Zealand expends a lot of energy trying to make money from global admiration of the All Blacks; it’s time someone tried to make money from worldwide contempt too.”

So get on it; share the wait.