If we can "roll the c*nts" to borrow Van's words then half the world will want to be on the Tahs. Its the Crusaders away, the toughest game in the comp. If we win our credentials are impeccable, if we lose we can probably start planning for next year. For the Tahs, this game is the pivotal game in the 14 rounds. (Had we put the Bulls away it would not have been so vital but we didn't.)
So everyone's hoping like hell that Cliffy's hammy will stay together and he can have a big one along with everyone else in the pack. But no one's under any illusions about the game. Would Blackadder be making those comments if we were some other team? Not likely. He knows how big a threat we are, but he also knows how good his own team can be and how much they will want to make up for last week. That was just mind games.
Its not tall poppy syndrome, its the gut-wrenching tightness you get when you want to win but your team so far has gone nowhere near reaching its real potential, and you know they have to step it up to test level intensity after three easy matches and one tough one. There are no guarantees they will, just their fans rooting for them to do it.