Rainy Wellington. 36 hours here and it has been wet for most of them. We did have a nice hour yesterday evening, when we sat outside with the first couple of half a dozen beers, but that's been it. I'm not a museum kind of person, but when it rains.... So Te Papa national museum yesterday morning. Te Papa sounds like a dodgy Italian restaurant to me, but it is basically a free to enter National History Museum, showing how the population arrived here. I learnt lots of things: rocks are heavy; wood is not as prevalent as it was here; lots of people came across from the UK; earthquakes make things shake.
Thoroughly educated, I went for lunch and then had another stroll through mist covered skies to a photographic display of the last 60 years of All Blacks rugby. Some classic matches captured on film. An interesting hour looking back at the careers of Meads, Mourie, Mexted, Going, Shelford, Dalton, Fitzpatrick and many other names that send shivers down the spine of a rugby follower. Some great photos and some great taches.... I can see where Lievremont got the inspiration now.
Beers with the locals last night was good. Catching up on tales of World Cups past... They've usually been in my position, frustrated after a poor showing when more, much more, was expected. Instead, they nervously approach a semi final against Australia which doesn't hold much in terms of happy memories to feed off. 1991: the reigning champs are beaten, in the semis, by Australia. 2003: The All Blacks are beaten, by Australia. 2-0 to the Wallabies in World Cups then (remarkably this is only the 3rd meeting of the sides). Fly-halves were a hot topic of discussion. There is a feeling here that by recalling Steven Donald, they are scraping the barrel. There aren't many options remaining, and they'll be wrapping Cruden, Donald and Weepu in cotton wool this week and next if all goes well on Sunday. It would appear that, for 2015, I have offered my services as tour-guide and bus driver for the English World Cup. Sounds like fun....
Off wine tasting this afternoon. What better way to spend a rainy afternoon? Then heading up to Rotorua via Taupo tomorrow. Hopefully getting a second fix of white-water rafting on Friday, before heading back to Auckland for the semi finals, which should be cracking games.
Wales and France are both at a stage they didn't expect to be at. Wales knew they would have to beat either Australia or South Africa to get through to the semi finals. As it happens, they did neither. A gift-wrapped second semi-final for the New Zealand specialists (1987 saw them at this stage for the only time previously). Riding the crest of a form wave, and with Warburton the captain seemingly incapable of doing anything wrong, either on the pitch or off it, the Welsh are confident.... maybe over-confident. I'm at pains to say that, well though they played against South Africa and well though they defended against Ireland (stats suggest that their back row didn't miss a single tackle), they haven't really been attacked at pace. That should change this weekend, with the likes of Medard, Clerc and Palisson ready to have a rip at them.
Beware the wounded French seems to be the phrase that has most oft been repeated this week. They are also now peaking after last week's win against England. The danger could be though that they have already won their Final, and that like in 2007, 1999 and 1987, after a magnificent victory, they will fall short in somewhat less than glory. There seems to at last be some sort of unity though in the squad, and there is a certain strange serenity about Lievremont this week (maybe his moustache has stopped itching?). Whatever, I think the French are far less likely to blow up, and have them to sneak this one by a score (Trinh-Duc drop goal?)
The Southern hemisphere semi, on Sunday, sees a re-match of the last game of the Tri Nations, but on New Zealand territory. The All Blacks haven't lost at Eden Park since the French beat them in 1994. That's an incredible 17 years. The Aussies were as resolute as they have been since 1999 in their Quarter Final match which ended the careers of Smit, Matfield and De Villiers, no doubt among others. They will need to be both resolute and more incisive on Sunday to reach a record 4th Final (after 1991, 1999 and 2003). Ioane may be slightly fitter this time around, but doubts surround Beale, who has been their one true class act.
The All Blacks are definitely more nervous than they were. They fear a reverse that would shake their rugby world. While they have been favourites for tournaments before, they haven't had to bear that tag at home, at least since they won the first tournament. Injuries have decimated their squad in recent times (Carter and Slade we know about, and these will hurt). Muliaina, out with a shoulder, is actually a plus for me. He is past his best, and this has allowed a much more potent option to be brought in in Hosea Gear. There will be shock waves around the country if they don't win on Sunday, with the silence set to be deafening on the way home from the amazing Eden Park; the ground sits in one of the more affluent areas of Auckland, and with its temporary stands on either side of the ground reaching skywards, it offers a magnificent setting for the final 4 games of the tournament.
If the weather is nice, I will walk to and from the game. The Fan Trail takes you through a variety of different areas, but it allows you to stretch your legs a little, and to burn off the excesses of the night/day before. Walking back after England's defeat was tough; especially through the nightclub exiting crowds near the top of Queen Street, but relaxed now England have exited, I look forward to whatever outcome gets thrown up.
And Finally...
New Zealand is about to undergo its worst maritime disaster of all time, with the stricken carrier ship Rena beached on coral off the coast, and with oil starting to come ashore. The clean-up cost will be millions, and the beautiful coastline could be irreparably damaged. Another reason that the All Blacks cannot fail this weekend... a sporting disaster to put alongside the ecological disaster about to happen would truly hurt the country.
Wales are opening the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff for the game on Saturday morning (UK Time). 25000 free tickets have been snapped up already. I'm not sure whether these are by people who will be setting the alarm clock early, or for people who intend to be coming straight from the puns and clubs.... Every eventuality needs catering for though, so I hope there will be plenty of Kleenex, Champagne and sick bags for those that need them. I guess the airlines will be ready too in case Wales win.... Many will head over I am sure, though good luck finding hotel rooms, and if the All Blacks make the final, good luck finding tickets (PS I have one of each).
With the oil tanker beached I feel it necessary to add that, at no time whatsoever, where any members of England's squad or support staff anywhere near the Rena.
England's loutish behaviour has been exaggerated greatly by the media at times. The Queenstown antics were blown out of all proportions by a local bouncer who wanted his moment of fame, and who, in interviews on NZ TV, came across as thicker than three short planks, and a sensationalistic British media who seem to take pleasure in derailing any National side's attempt to win a trophy. Why? Is it because, with "4 more years of hurt" the clamour to read about such attempts in the written press grows, thereby ensuring that the scandal-mongering journalists, amongst an on the whole decent bunch of rugby journalists out here, ensure that in 4 years time they will still have a job? is it jealousy from people who either never played the game at the top level or who didn't have the success and therefore don't want to see their successors get the praise? I'm not sure, but both British and New Zealand media seem full of tosh at times.
New Zealand are the only unbeaten side in the semi finals. I just leave that stat hanging without comment for the moment.
Madman of the tournament has to go to Peter De Villiers. Crazy selections, behaviour in the box that equates to that of a man who can't quite believe his luck at being in his current job, resigning then saying he hasn't... he is a real box of tricks. In fact, at times, I've had to look a few times to check he's not coaching England.
Talking of coaching England, opinion seems split as to whether Johnson stays or goes. Personally, I think he needs to go, but with one proviso: the next coach MUST be English. It would be wholly unacceptable for the biggest Rugby playing Nation in the world to appoint anyone other than an Englishman. There is a high profile man who will be out of work late 2012 and who would I am sure take on the challenge of building to World Cup 2015. He wouldn't shirk the responsibility, I am sure. Nor would players be given the liberty to mess up as often as they have at this one. Sir Clive Woodward, the country awaits you again... I guess the only problem may be, if he were to take England to the title for a second time, how would he be titled afterwards? Lord Woodward of Somewhere? King Clive? Definitely the best candidate for the job I think... So an option may be to stick with Johnson till after the next 6 Nations and move on.
As I said, New Zealand are the only unbeaten side in the tournament now. Does this make this the best World Cup ever? Pretty damn close to it I would suggest with many sides capable of beating each other. New Zealand still haven't let a side within 20 points in any World Cup game in New Zealand. That should change this weekend finally. Best World Cup ever? Go on then, put me down for a yes....
A tricky decade awaits the Northern Hemisphere. As European sides grow, the 6 Nations as it is may well change over that time period. I'll discuss this in detail in my next blog, just wanted to mention it here to set your neurones going....
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