(TED = The Era of Dominance, and 'Ted' is also ABs' coach Graham Henry's nickname)
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| Happy Chappies |
Well, after seven momentous weeks it's all over. New Zealand have fulfilled their destiny and Kiwis the world over have breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The final was as tense as it gets. Perhaps not the greatest game of rugby you'll ever have seen, but possibly the most gripping. Defences dominated (as has been the case throughout the knock out stage) and the game was certainly no walk over for New Zealand as some had, mistakenly, predicted. The French really stepped up to the plate; their intensity and intent was obvious from the start when they challenged the haka in a manner which was greatly appreciated by New Zealanders if not by the IRB (Irrelevant Rugby Bureaucrats) since it broke all their precious protocols. Expect the Frogs to get a slap over the wrists, but they won't give a merde!
Some people (all right, Stuart ) have criticised Craig Joubert for his refereeing, but I reckon he had a good game under intense pressure, but then I was watching the match in a one-eyed Kiwi manner! It's not bad having the ABs as your second side when Wales fail to come up trumps. Remember you English chappies that 14 man Wales lost to France by a single point, who then lost to the new champions by the same margin. So that makes us only 2 points short of the World Championship in my reckoning. (In truth it might as well be 200 points short!).
The curse of the AB number 10 shirt struck again; in fact I was so worried about Richie the garden gnome (remember him?) that I took him in for a full body NMR scan this morning. It was a tremendous irony that fourth choice fly half Steven Donald was the man to kick the winning penalty. He is generally derided over here as being bloody useless, to the extent that he is leaving the country forthwith to fill his pockets with Bath RFC cash. Donald was plucked from his whitebait fishing piss-up to make up the numbers, to the extent that his jersey was far too tight to fit him and he thus becomes the first player to win the RWC whilst exposing his 'love handles'. Perhaps there's hope for ageing old overweight has-beens yet!
New Zealand is going into party mode from hereon with victory parades in Auckland (today) and in Christchurch and Wellington in the days to come. Richie McCaw will then probably take a morning off to have a wooden leg fitted (I reckon he's had a stress fracture of his foot throughout the RWC) before returning to prove that even with a prosthesis he's infinitely faster than anyone in the English back row. (Don't you ever give up Ballingall? - Ed).
Post-RWC life now looms and this blog is going into semi-retirement while I get on with gardening, painting and generally starting to repay the enormous debt to the family that I have built up since early September. I may post an occasional sideways look at life in Aotearoa, in fact as I wrote that the first commercial flight into our new Kapiti Coast Airport flew over, so share with me two moments of history. We can now fly direct from Paraparaumu to Auckland - which is nice!
If you have enjoyed reading this blog do let me know by emailing here. I am told that there are a number of misguided souls out there with far too much time on their hands; it would be nice to know who you are.
Before I knock off and go to Mitre 10 to buy some paint brushes, I must thank everyone who has made this experience of a lifetime possible; John of course, for keeping his old man on the straight(ish!) and narrow and for getting the match tickets, Cath and Rich for their support in persuading 'her indoors' to let me come for the duration and for the amazing Wales shirts, Heiniken for brewing so much gassy piss, fans from all round the world who I have abused and drunk with, and New Zealand and New Zealanders for being such fantastic hosts. Finally on the thanks front, how can I record how much I owe Mary for putting up with this whole crazy adventure? Six weeks today she will be on a plane to join me, so amends-making will start in earnest when I meet her in Melbourne! Thanks darling, so, so much.
And finally...........
With six weeks looming with only New Zealand television (an oxymoron if ever I saw one!) to entertain me, I thought I'd leave you with a glimpse of the best thing by far on Kiwi TV, this advert for the Toyota Hilux Ute (best viewed in full screen).
Byeeee
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