Jacqui and I had been looking forward to going out to a pub and watching New Zealand's All Blacks dominate another country in the finals since we found out we'd be flying in the same day. Today was that day! After a few hour nap following a tiring plane ride, we hit up a pub down the road from our hotel here in Hamilton, "The Helm"... a pretty great place and apparently some sort of official rugby bar for the area. lol. Beers were cheaper than expected at only $5.50 to $6 a glass (though not a "pint"), and they had some massive $5 pizzas as well. Anyways, Jacqui's probably typing about that beside me already... haha.
[Jacqui] Yes I am!
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| Used our 2 for 1 coupon on some local beer! Yay for getting here early enough to get a table with a good TV view. |
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| Delicious pizza with pork, kumara, bacon, apple sauce and mozzarella. Only $5!!! And fries for Scott. |
The game was great though! I really have to thank our good friend Rob Johnston again for giving us a great rundown on the rules of Rugby Union before we left town! Definitely helped out massively today. The domination we expected from New Zealand never really materialized and they just barely squeaked out a win at 8-7 against France, but it was totally awesome anyways. Mostly we just felt bad for Piri Weepu since by all accounts he's a great player (and leads the team in the Waka dance before every game), but he was just off his game tonight and missed a few kicks and then gave away the ball which quickly led to France's only try for the game. Sad. The locals here in Hamilton were ridiculously excited about his replacement (Stephen Donald) though, assumingly since he plays for the local team, or has in the past, or something. We aren't 100% sure. In any event, Donald kicked the winning penalty goal and is surely to be a new national hero. Looks like his Wikipedia page has been updated already:
Anyways, great day, great game, great people so far! Can't wait for more adventure! :D
P.S. It's hilarious how when somebody is injured and needs help from the paramedics the game doesn't always stop... usually the action is still going on as players try not to run over the medics, haha.
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