The week leading up to the Semi's was consumed with recovery, phone shopping, running and visiting friends in the Northland city of Whangarei. Thanks to the Prasad family for welcoming me home like only you guys can and Congratulations to Harry and Mrs Miranda Harrison on your brilliant new gym studio.
Bookended on Friday with a warm up to the action was my Auckland 30th birthday with my wonderful family and friends. It was a night when you recognise how awesome your oldest friends are and how they are always there for you. Thanks Lovelies!
As Saturday morning came and we enjoyed a slow start (some more than others!). I made arrangements to go to the first of the Semi Finals games with Vicky's old English workmate & Premier womens rugby player Rachel German. Rach had secured herself a ticket from a disappointed Englishman the week before for a tidy $50 (I had paid $501) on his way to the airport. We met a couple of girlfriends in Ponsonby and had some dinner before Chloe dropped us off on the Fan Trail, where we were gifted a Welsh flag. So we were ready!
I met the SA boys at the gate and left them with tickets whilst I headed in through the first lot of turnstiles at Eden Park....suddenly I was in the grown up seats at the Rugby World Cup! I had been conversing with my Welsh friends during the week and was amped to be there supporting them to take the Frenchies. The dulcet tones of Tom Jones and Charlotte Church set the stage for a dramatic game (how awkward would it have been if Gavin Henson was there to listen to Charlotte!). Unfortunately after a mere ten minutes the referees ruling to Red Card Welsh flanker Sam Warbuton after a tackle turned the game.The Welsh team put up a spirited effort to make the most of a 14-15 man game but were beaten by a mere 1 point.
Final Score 8-9 to France. The Frogs were through to the final. I was so disappointed for the Welsh as I have enjoyed my times in Cardiff watching rugby and being amongst seemingly as passionate rugby fans.
After taking a bus that got stuck on a hill into town, Rachel and I joined our girl friends for a dance off with the crowds down in the Fan Zone before heading home sensibly. I think I had fed enough chickens, hung out enough washing and rocked out to Dragon for one night! Sunday was the final hurdle to the final for the AB's and we needed to be prepared.
Game Day came. It was a sunny day and the family were very very excited (if starting to get very tournament weary and living on cough medicine). Rach and I caught the bus over to join Tom and Vicky for some of the party action at the Fan Zone. We saw a couple of live bands and I bumped into old friends. The atmosphere was electric...the one thing you can count on is a Trans Tasman challenge putting the spirit into people. I went to meet René and his Dad Kelly on Fort Street (only to be distracted by some of the French players taking a stroll down Queen St trying to see what all the Fan Trail action was all about...I contemplated a Jo-Gate knee capping but thought better of it!). With Father & Son I enjoyed a stroll to Eden Park taking in a beer en-route. I love how sport is something we share with our parents and despite all my Mum's avid yelling and her gallant efforts to enjoy the Quarter final in Cardiff she isn't Dad. I have so many fond memories of going to Carisbrook with Dad under the premise of visiting my impoverished student sisters. Then there was the mid night wake ups for the games at Twickenham where Swing Low seemed like a lullabye or all those times Thomas and I lost our voices and I would run out onto the Carisbrook pitch to say hi to Aaron Pene, MY favourite All Black. I love the game of rugby because of my Dad for sure. So sharing it with René and his Dad was such a privilege. Thanks Team Peters.
Colin met me at the Turnstiles again and this time we loaded up on drinks & ensured South African Col was suitably tattooed for the occasion. After a year of looking forward to sharing this experience (despite the obvious disappointment that SA weren't in the Semi) we were pumped and the tingle factor in the stadium was infectious. The national anthems were breath takingly passionate and really set the stage for what was simply the best atmosphere for a game I have experienced. The two teams were fairly matched and this seemed like a game which should be close. At the first kick off I passed comment that NZ born Australian 1st Five Eighth Quade Cooper was our 16th man....he didn't fail me all night having an absolute blinder for his homeland. Pity for him he was meant to be playing for the other team! We led 14-6 by half time and despite Piri Weepu's boot not being terribly reliable he slotted them where it counted.
I even felt comfortable enough about proceedings to get a few wines in...get me! My school friends tease me for not talking, drinking or perving during a game.
The second Half we kept Australia pointless and slotted a further 6 points to make the Final Score 20-6. The relief was palpable. The Rugby loving hosts of New Zealand were in the World Cup Final. It would be a complete repeat of the 1987 Final. New Zealand v France.
The anticipation and excitement seeped through me...it was a brilliant feeling. Topped off by beating the bloody Aussies!
Colin and I made our way on the train to the Fan Zone to meet the other revellers from around the country and the globe - even bumping into an old BGI Australian who had flown in just for the game from Seoul! Thanks to my London boys Colin, Sean, Willie and René. It was great to share the experience and to show you the best of my part of the world.
Now for the biggest game of my living memory....the RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL!
Bookended on Friday with a warm up to the action was my Auckland 30th birthday with my wonderful family and friends. It was a night when you recognise how awesome your oldest friends are and how they are always there for you. Thanks Lovelies!
As Saturday morning came and we enjoyed a slow start (some more than others!). I made arrangements to go to the first of the Semi Finals games with Vicky's old English workmate & Premier womens rugby player Rachel German. Rach had secured herself a ticket from a disappointed Englishman the week before for a tidy $50 (I had paid $501) on his way to the airport. We met a couple of girlfriends in Ponsonby and had some dinner before Chloe dropped us off on the Fan Trail, where we were gifted a Welsh flag. So we were ready!
I met the SA boys at the gate and left them with tickets whilst I headed in through the first lot of turnstiles at Eden Park....suddenly I was in the grown up seats at the Rugby World Cup! I had been conversing with my Welsh friends during the week and was amped to be there supporting them to take the Frenchies. The dulcet tones of Tom Jones and Charlotte Church set the stage for a dramatic game (how awkward would it have been if Gavin Henson was there to listen to Charlotte!). Unfortunately after a mere ten minutes the referees ruling to Red Card Welsh flanker Sam Warbuton after a tackle turned the game.The Welsh team put up a spirited effort to make the most of a 14-15 man game but were beaten by a mere 1 point.
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| Jamie Roberts after Wales Semi Final Loss |
After taking a bus that got stuck on a hill into town, Rachel and I joined our girl friends for a dance off with the crowds down in the Fan Zone before heading home sensibly. I think I had fed enough chickens, hung out enough washing and rocked out to Dragon for one night! Sunday was the final hurdle to the final for the AB's and we needed to be prepared.
Game Day came. It was a sunny day and the family were very very excited (if starting to get very tournament weary and living on cough medicine). Rach and I caught the bus over to join Tom and Vicky for some of the party action at the Fan Zone. We saw a couple of live bands and I bumped into old friends. The atmosphere was electric...the one thing you can count on is a Trans Tasman challenge putting the spirit into people. I went to meet René and his Dad Kelly on Fort Street (only to be distracted by some of the French players taking a stroll down Queen St trying to see what all the Fan Trail action was all about...I contemplated a Jo-Gate knee capping but thought better of it!). With Father & Son I enjoyed a stroll to Eden Park taking in a beer en-route. I love how sport is something we share with our parents and despite all my Mum's avid yelling and her gallant efforts to enjoy the Quarter final in Cardiff she isn't Dad. I have so many fond memories of going to Carisbrook with Dad under the premise of visiting my impoverished student sisters. Then there was the mid night wake ups for the games at Twickenham where Swing Low seemed like a lullabye or all those times Thomas and I lost our voices and I would run out onto the Carisbrook pitch to say hi to Aaron Pene, MY favourite All Black. I love the game of rugby because of my Dad for sure. So sharing it with René and his Dad was such a privilege. Thanks Team Peters.
 |
| Convert for the night, Col |
I even felt comfortable enough about proceedings to get a few wines in...get me! My school friends tease me for not talking, drinking or perving during a game.
 |
| Semi Final Action just before the whistle. Boom! |
The anticipation and excitement seeped through me...it was a brilliant feeling. Topped off by beating the bloody Aussies!
Colin and I made our way on the train to the Fan Zone to meet the other revellers from around the country and the globe - even bumping into an old BGI Australian who had flown in just for the game from Seoul! Thanks to my London boys Colin, Sean, Willie and René. It was great to share the experience and to show you the best of my part of the world.
Now for the biggest game of my living memory....the RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL!
 |
| Celebrate Good Times COME ON! |
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