From the unique and spectacular Opening Ceremony on 9th September until the Final Game on 23rd October 2011, all eyes were on New Zealand as we hosted the seventh world cup rugby series. The 6-week 48-game tournament catapulted New Zealand onto the world stage All the cities throughout NZ had set up fan zones and became party central ... the streets, cafes, restaurants, musicians and entertainers all absolutely showcased their best for the 95,000+ tourists that flooded to our country.
We were so thrilled to have Wellington Stadium tickets to see France beat USA, Australia thrash the USA, South Africa beat Fiji, South Africa beat Wales (oh that was so close, only 1 point between them) and of course our amazing All Blacks thrash Canada.
As you can imagine, the boys at school spoke about nothing else so it was fantastic for Joshua to be able to talk about the games that he went to - just to be there, to see it all, to soak up the atmosphere was exhilarating! Before heading to the games, we always parked the car in town and wandered along Queens Wharf just taking in all the crazy outfits, the colour, the music, the processions ... it was truly fantastic!
And then of course the Final game between New Zealand and France. As the headlines said "what a game - but ooh la la, it was close!" The All Blacks had displayed some amazing rugby in their earlier games earning their rightful place in the Finals, but unfortunately in the Finals they just never shone (maybe France didn't let them). However, the All Blacks were roared on by the 60,000+ NZ fans at the Stadium and also the 4 million souls scattered throughout NZ and finally ... beat France 8-7. The game play was agony to watch .. but it's a win and we are going to take it!
As you can imagine, the country erupted and I am sure major cities partied all night long. All the frustration and pain wold have been swept away and replaced by nothing but sheer joy and elation that the All Blacks won.
Post-final street parades took place in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and even a light drizzle could not keep a crowd of over 100,000 from welcoming the Rugby World Cup champions to Wellington. There was dancing in the street and fans held signs and screamed themselves hoarse as the All Blacks made their way through Wellington.
And in the words of Richie McCaw, our captain of the All Blacks, when holding the trophy "it's such a small little trophy, but what it means is huge".
NZ has had a rough year for many, many reasons. To have this win means SO much. Well done All Blacks - you are our champions of the world!
Just about every second car in Wellington had an All Black car flag on their rear window; houses had large NZ flags on their balconies; some even had flag poles with the NZ flag - oh yes, we certainly got behind 'our boys'.
