Location: Grand Chancellor Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand
Time: 23:00
Hard to believe its been 5 weeks and 46 games already! Only 6 days left until we know who the World Cup final winners will be and if this weekends semi-finals were anything to go by its already a foregone conclusion!
It broke my heart to see Wales go out against an appalling French "outfit", I cant even bring myself to call them a team. Controversial as Sam Warburtons sending off was it has to be said that Irish referee Alan Roland made the correct call. Im not suggesting that Warburtons tackle had any malice to it but the rules are clear on that type of tackle and he simply had to go.
It did destroy the game as a contest unfortunately and although a brave Wales battled hard with there one man deficit it wasent to be. For all their heart and determination poor kicking, a basic skill of the game, let them down in the end. And so the red armies march comes to a halt and is diverted to a 3rd/4th place playoff instead of a Final.
The All Blacks v Australia game was a much more interesting affair.... for about 20 mins! The dominent Kiwis controlled the game brilliantly and eventually sucked the life out of a Wallaby team that really had no tactical offense whatsoever. They were made to look ordinary - very very ordinary!
Thus a 24 yr old case of "De Ja Vu" now comes to fruition here in New Zealand as the both the final and the semi final parings are the exact same as they were in the inaugural world cup on these shores back in 1987. On that occasion the All Blacks won there one and only Webb Ellis Cup and it looks as though next Sunday should be their second and heres hoping as a French win would be disaster for the sport!
The French having lost two games already at this world cup find themselves in a world cup final that they themselves cant really fathom. Rumors of discontent in their camp are rife and the stories of wide spread boozing after the game by players at the disgust of management have only added fuel to the fire. Mark Leivermant the French manager even publicly critisized his players as "spoilt brats" after they went drinking to celebrate their semi-final victory even though he specifically requested that they did not follow the mistakes they made in 1999 when a 4 day binge drinking session after the semi-final came back to bite them in the final when they were comprehensively beathen by Australia.
Auckland has come alive at the prospect of the All Blacks finnaly banishing their 24 year hodoo and you would be forgivin for thinking post match on Sunday night that they had all ready won the cup! Its a really exciting time to be here and despite my hope that it would be a Wales v Australia final I have to admit that I am now "backing Black" 100%
Apart for the rugby going on there are also lots to see and do on the Auckland waterfront and I have had a great week enjoying the various events and exhibitions. Many "Super Yachts" have arrived in Auckland harbor and some are even been used as privet chartered hotels. The Maori community have erected a tent village on the Wharf and have been displaying their art-work and heritage for all to see and visit.
The Fanzone and exhibition area have been showcasing many events including the "Taste" New Zealand festival and an exhibition of "Kiwi Innovation" which included a robot wars competition and on display is the "Jet Black" car that is hoped to break the world land speed record early next year (see slideshow above). Not to be out done the rural community of New Zealand is also being show cased and for the last couple of days there has been a sheep shearing competition on the main stage in the Fanzone - I kid you not! I shot some video of it today....you can view it here! They slide show above also shows various pictures of whats being going on here in Auckland.
Thats all the news for now.... hopefully this day next week we will have a seen the All Blacks lift the Webb Ellis Trophy...... interesting that no team that has lost a game at a world cup has gone on to win it.... lets hope that continues as New Zealand couldn't possibly cope with the depression that a loss (esp to France) in the final would bring!!!
