''For every door that closes another one opens.''
Profound words for many rugby players and coaches as the aftermath of the ITM Cup kicks in and individuals find themselves either with or without a job for 2014.
The semi-professional ITM Cup players get off the rugby-playing roller coaster and return to their ''normal'' lives. The lucky ones who know they've got ITM cup contracts for next year may have found a boss who is willing to take them on for the summer and club rugby season, only to lose them in the middle of winter to the rugby field and all it promises.
The unlucky ones will have to decide whether they're going to put their name in the hat again next season or hang up their boots for good and look for a ''real'' job. Those who have made a real job out of rugby have a small window of opportunity to rest their bodies and minds before replacing provincial colours for psychedelic Super rugby ones.
And, last but not least, a small number of players will get no rest at all. But sticking with the inspirational words of wisdom theme - a change is as good as a rest - and who would turn down the opportunity to play in black if it was presented?
The lucky individuals selected for the All Blacks or the Maori All Blacks get to travel the world, play with the best, and be part of New Zealand's rugby legacy. November always seems like a time where the NZRU puts its best and brightest on display for the rest of the world to admire, as long as they're willing to pay for that privilege, that is. It's a time to appease the sponsors, fill the coffers, and tap into new markets.
The All Blacks game against Japan will surely be a walkover and an opportunity for the new men in black to show their talents. It is also a chance for the All Black machine to see what it's like to play in Japan, the host of the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Hopefully, the game at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Stadium this Saturday acts as a decent warm-up game for the `business-end' of the tour in France, England and Ireland.
The Maori All Blacks have no such luxury, and are expected to hit the ground running (or at least hit the ground doing a haka) when they play Canada on Monday morning, NZ time, and USA next weekend.
The players are not only expected to wow the crowds with their play but their cultural performance as well, with the haka being heavily emphasised in promotional material and events. For New Zealand rugby's sake, they need to avoid becoming a touring kapa haka group that plays rugby, and find the right balance between meeting cultural obligations and rugby expectations.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for all those coaches and players who have fallen into the post-rugby abyss. Like many workers in New Zealand who have been told their services are no longer required, even though the writing was on the wall in most cases, it is still hard to comprehend when the future is uncertain and there are bills to be paid and families to be fed. How to cope with this life-changing moment?
This is the time for hours of rugby training and socialisation to kick in. Dust yourself off, change your tactics, enhance your strengths and work on your weaknesses.
Take this time to review, reflect and reinvent yourself and take on this new challenge like you would an opponent running at you, a scrum about to engage, and a haka about to be unleashed.
Life isn't fair and sometimes rugby isn't fair. The door may have been slammed or slowly but surely shut in your face. There are always other doors.
