2011 Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals countdown
October 8th 2011 02:56
With the quarter finals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup contest about to begin, the mood here in Aotearoa New Zealand is electric.
Auckland is packed and pumping as thousands of French, English and Argentine visitors hit the town. The Kiwis are out in full force too, their beloved black throwing the visitors’ red white and blues into bold relief.
Down at the viaduct restaurants and bars are buzzing and in a few hours the slow straggle up through the city to Eden Park will begin.
French fans are tight-lipped about their teams’ prospects in this evening’s match. After their shock defeat against Tonga in Wellington last week who can blame them? Many have already lost faith, like Guillaume, from Le Pays Basque. “C’est pas la peine” (it’s not worth it) he confided sadly before he headed home last Monday.
The English remain positive/confident and well they might too. They play, say the experts, “the kind of Rugby that wins world cups.
The Argentines are silent and smiling, like a puma, perhaps, waiting to pounce? Yet, say the experts, they “need to show more claw” if they want to win.
The Kiwis are apprehensive. Without Dan Carter, with a question mark over the swift foot of Ritchie McCaw and with their past RWC record it’s little wonder.
These are tense and scary times for all the 2011 Rugby World Cup teams and all their supporters. Nothing is certain but this – four teams will win, four will lose and four will head home.
,
Auckland is packed and pumping as thousands of French, English and Argentine visitors hit the town. The Kiwis are out in full force too, their beloved black throwing the visitors’ red white and blues into bold relief.
Down at the viaduct restaurants and bars are buzzing and in a few hours the slow straggle up through the city to Eden Park will begin.
Auckland city from Mount Eden
French fans are tight-lipped about their teams’ prospects in this evening’s match. After their shock defeat against Tonga in Wellington last week who can blame them? Many have already lost faith, like Guillaume, from Le Pays Basque. “C’est pas la peine” (it’s not worth it) he confided sadly before he headed home last Monday.
The English remain positive/confident and well they might too. They play, say the experts, “the kind of Rugby that wins world cups.
The Argentines are silent and smiling, like a puma, perhaps, waiting to pounce? Yet, say the experts, they “need to show more claw” if they want to win.
The Kiwis are apprehensive. Without Dan Carter, with a question mark over the swift foot of Ritchie McCaw and with their past RWC record it’s little wonder.
These are tense and scary times for all the 2011 Rugby World Cup teams and all their supporters. Nothing is certain but this – four teams will win, four will lose and four will head home.
,
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