Pooling Around - the grass roots of the RWC

Some 7 weeks ago I arrived in New Zealand to be greeted with black flags and radio sport in the car. And a nation saying "if" we win the world cup. "When" was my instant response. I was bemused why the rugby loving culture were not adamant there team had it in them. Over the coming weeks I got back into the Kiwi psychi and began to watch the negative news and the negative press about our team and all things Rugby World Cup related.

Week One - The opening ceremony and the NZ v Tonga game that followed was an absolute hit! NZ won the game convincingly allowing Tonga who by all intense and purposes bought the party and the passion to the tournament before it started with their furicous welcome at the airport and the many red flags (and even a painted house seen here in Northcote) to welcome their heroes. I personally had a fabulous night enjoying the game with my mates Uncle and the father-in-law of the sole Tongan try scorer. Nice on Kev! Final Score 41-10

Sadly the NZ news the following evening covered these as the headlines of the night. Poor transport services, over crowding in the streets, drunken behaviour. Not untrue but just not the highlight of the night. I'm sure those outside of Auckland or those who stayed at home to watch the game thought it was a spectacle and a half.

At my Homestead Stadium,
Invercargill in my Dad's Swandri. 

Week Two - I flew south to Gore and took in a couple of games at Homestead in Invercargill. The first a penalty riddled game between Scotland and Georgia was very unconvincing. Final Score 15-6 to Scotland. The local support was amazing and made me so proud to be from the provinces. With so many southerners calling Scotland the motherland (we were settled by the Scots 130 years ago) myself a second generation Kiwi, it was tough to tell the tourists from the locals. The city was a kilt fest with the English supporters donning their Red and white for Georgia (and to antagonise their northern neighbours as per usual).

My Nephew Joshua in his
Argentina colours

My neice Sophie in her 

Argentina colours

The second game was between Argentina and Romania and fell on my 30th birthday. We started the day with a Salmon Roast with all my southern family. Being greeted on the gate by my cousin who was volunteering and catching another cousin inside the match. The crowd was electric and my young niece and nephew had an amazing time with the Argentinian fans jumping the shouting and falling in love with rugby in the process. Final Score 43-8 to Argentina. We joined the revellers in town that night for the Australia v Ireland match and had further cause for celebration with Irish win! The weekend was backed up with the Christening of my London nephew home for the RWC too. Making it a weekend of fabulous family celebrations.

Chloe on Fan Trail

Haka challenge v France in Pool Round, Eden Park

Week Three - back to Eden Park in Auckland for the France v NZ match and it was another electric affair. Chloe and I had been in Cardiff 4 years before to see the defeat in the Quarter final stages so we had a score to settle and the Cocks were sure as hell going to cop it tonight! We walked the last 2km of the Fan trail and got to the ground early and after a great game and a good French Toast we continued the sporting success in Kingston with a semi final win for the NZ league team in the Australian league taking us to the NRL finals!

Samoan and Fijian players
pray after the game, Eden Park

The weekend was completed with a Samoan triumph at Eden Park against their island competitors Fiji. A game I couldn't give the ticket away for but enjoyed with the company of Allan a fellow rugby fan and returned ex-pat. The atmosphere was awesome though with everyone getting on board to support one of our island neighbours and the drums beating.

The South African Boys get a
good Samoan welcome!,
North Shore Stadium

Week Four - started with the arrival of Sean, Colin and Willie from London on Friday. After the boys freshened up we went straight to the South Africa v Samoa game at North Harbour Stadium. I had been given a ticket from a friend and we were all scattered around the field. The atmosphere was brilliant with a performance from Samoans complete with drums and grass skirts. The game was tightly fought and resulted in a 13-5 win for South Africa. We had a magic time and made a night of it celebrating with 12 South African friends until 6am.

Celebrating with Samoan supporters in
the Viaduct after their final game
  v South Africa
(photo sent from Rog on the Left
 to wish the AB's luck for the Final!)

English Roses Andrea and Beth on the
fan trail with the Royal  Family

The Tri nations Canadian Kelly,
Kiwi René  and South African Colin

Saturday saw my old Varsity flatmate Andrea and her English flatmate Beth join Colin and I for the fan trail. Just a few yards up Queen St another Varsity friend Victoria and her boyfriend/my school friend Grant made for a right old gaggle. The game was a classic RWC spectacle.The passionate Scots were defeated 16-12 with a consolation hug from me and a "Thank You for coming to our country, New Zealand loves you!". We partied with the Scots that night along with the arrival of another London; René and his Canadian born but Kiwi proud Dad Kelly.

Sunday was locked in for the NRL final to see the NZ Warriors take on Manly Sea Eagles...alas we lost but sharing it with my Varsity girls was a brilliant way to end the weekend.

Week Five was all consuming with a trip South with the London based SA boys Colin, Sean and Willie and will take another long blog to skim the tour highlights if only to sell NZ for its beauty!

This saw us to the business end of the tournament and worthy of a notable breath. What is to follow makes me more proud than words.