Rugby World Cup

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After a suitable period of mourning, I am finally emotionally prepared to write of the rugby 'incident' that was..
Al, Bing & I decided we had 4 significant goals for the day:

A) Collect our rental car and ensure we wern't ripped off and given a bus of some description
B) Successfull arrival and check in at our dodgy Etap budget hotel and ensure the booking was valid
C) Not being refused entry from Cardiff's Millenium Stadium with what could very well be pirated tickets.
D) Win the game

Meatloaf says '2 out of 3 aint bad' but his maths is awful.
As is now history, we managed 3 out of 4.

I will therefore focus on the good parts:
Our car was double upgraded from a Modeo to an E Series Mercedes - picture attached.
This was certainly a highlight, leather seats, german enginering, plenty of show off value on the drive in past the french supporters in their little 3 person Renauts and citroens.

Etap hotel, which we had heard reported as having a hammock hung over a double bed, actually had a bunk bed above our double for Al.
We still decided to downgrade the atmosphere though by hanging my underpants to dry on the ladder rungs, much to Al's amusement.

Millenium Stadium, 71,699 screaming french and kiwi supporters, great seats, great atmosphere, great fun.
About halfway through the game we heard a frenchman shout: Go France, a kiwi yell: Go the All Blacks, and a lost Irishman scream: Go Ireland!!

Prior to entry into the stadium we were also treated to the haka preformed by a portly Welshman in a green Borat Mankini.
We also spotted walking past us either Hamish or James Marshall (Black Cap). He recognised us of course, particuarly Al, who has played quite a bit of competitive cricket..

For a few short hours, up until the last 10 minutes of the game, the kiwis were the Kings of Cardiff, the streets were swathed in black there were at least 40,000 kiwis roaming the streets waving the silver fern, the nz flag and generally causing good natured chaos.

After the game, as you can imagine, there was very little celebatory drinking on our part.
The rest in best left unsaid... 😞

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Photos

RWC1
The support team

RWC 2
The boys don't yet sense any impending defeat

RWC 3
Make up time

RWC 4
Borat has put on a few pounds

RWC 5
Brains, a zombie's favourite beer.

RWC 6
The extended support team

RWC 7
Bong & Al on the climb up to our seats - at this point we were still pretty positive..

RWC 8
What great seats!!

RWC 9
Transportation german style