World Cup Rugby - the final countdown
September 15th 2007 08:20
The Eiffel Tower Paris
Tullamarine, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, 13 September
The day has come and the hour is nearly here. The hill of trivia and nail-bitingly stressful obstacles are behind me now. I’m in the Departure Lounge, waiting for the boarding call
The loose ends have all been tied or cut; the marks and reports uploaded, the phone calls and emails finished, bills paid, registrations done. I’ve seen all the people who really matter. Big Red lies in the underbelly of the aircraft parked just outside the window, packed with all those last minute desperate requests from the already departed; the alpaca beanie, the pale-green hoody, the Promite, the Manuka honey and the presents for who knows who. There wasn’t room in the end for the Steinlager flag, but perhaps that’s not such a bad thing, perhaps it’s time for new one. There wasn’t actually much room for my gear either, so here I sit, wearing most of it - the black singlet, the t shirt, the dress, the jeans, the jersey, the boots, the jacket, the scarf and the beanie. Do I look conspicuous? Do I feel self-conscious? No! I’m just one of a crowd of traveling Michelin people in black or green and gold – destination France, via Dubai. The Lounge buzzes with shared Cup predictions, all favourable for the All Blacks. These are people who speak as if they know it all. Maybe Tighthead Ted was wrong with his “Silver Fern” South Africa 1, Australia 2, NZ, 3 rankings. Things are looking really good! But best of all, finally, the tickets have arrived in London and are now on their way to Paris with the advance guard.
Lyon, France, Saturday morning, September.
Jet lagged and jaded, I tap away in the Lyonnais dawn. La Coupe du Monde de Rugby dominates the billboards, newspaper hoardings and the headlines of France. The front cover of the freeby magazine Sport, asks anxiously “Face aux monstres du Sud, L’Europe tient-elle le choc?” - Facing the monsters from the South can Europe stand the shock? Yesterday afternoon the Paris streets were teeming with English and South African Rugby jerseys. We watched South Africa defeat England in a Lyon Bar that was mainly black. And speaking of that game, perhaps Sport is right – perhaps Europe can’t stand up to the monsters from the Southern Hemisphere. Today’s All Blacks – Portugal game should be interesting as they face a new opponent. The Departure Lounge experts predict certain victory and I certainly wouldn’t argue against such conviction but still, will they acquit themselves well and more importantly, will they avoid injuries.
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