A big Thank You to the NZ Public

I travelled NZ during the world cup and have to say that the atmosphere and welcome my wife and I received where ever we went was amazing (and this was for an Australian!!). The whole country was caught up in the buzz and it felt like Rugby had taken over. I've never experienced anything like it and that includes France 07 which I also travelled to.

I can't wait for 2015 where I'm sure we'll get an equally wonderful tournament. If the bank balance allows I'll be at that one as well!!

Bravo Kiwi's. You may not have the largest stadia, but as a nation supporting an event and it's visitiors I couldn't have asked for more. Except maybe not such a hiding in the Semi

Afew2many
Cheers for that and I am pleased that you had such a good time.
Interesting point you make about the size of the Stadia,Size doesnt matter,its the quality of the surface that counts.thats what gives the players the opptimum apportunity to perform at the highest standard,I think there were 11 stadia used around NZ in the tournament,all of top International standard.
How many times after 80 minutes did you see players wearing white shorts without even a grass stain...or scrums collapse because a prop was standing in a hole.

By no means was I begrudging the size of the venues used. Sitting in Dunedin Standium with 20,000 English and Argentinians was so loud it felt like there were 80,000. Sorry my point was that the size didn't matter whatsoever and the atmosphere was still amazing.

But granted your point aout the surfaces was spot on. I still don't get how the dunedin Stadium manages to grow grass. But then again it's not my job to grow grass

If there's only one thing NZ is good at it would be growing grass. Our economy is built on it. Both kinds of grass when you think about it.

Cool. I met so many tourists from many of the countries visiting I lost count.

It was surreal being able to watch matches with fans from overseas and hearing their stories many of which were more fun than the games themselves.

There really was a turbocharged atmosphere of fun and all things rugby its so weird its gone now just as quick as it came. Gotta get to England in 2015 cos thats the best way to enjoy the tournament... being in the middle of it..

Few too many
Sorry if I gave the impression I was criticising you for mentioning size,etc. i just raised the playing surface thing because I hadnt noticed anyone else raise it.
SFS and Suncorp are two of my favourite stadiums. (especially for origin games ) Homebush too big,never been inside "the gee".

Spot on on AFewtoomany

We travelled the length and breadth too and found nothing but happy welcoming folks, but we also found this 5 years ago on Honeymoon so much so we moved here from UK.

The atmosphere in the Dunedin stadium was unique, never experienced anything like that back in UK . I believe the roof allows the , whatever it is that makes grass grow, through whilst keeping the C*** out

Rangiora wrote:Spot on on AFewtoomany

We travelled the length and breadth too and found nothing but happy welcoming folks, but we also found this 5 years ago on Honeymoon so much so we moved here from UK.

amazing...!

kiwis are nice people- never meet a horrid one- i even like GG, not so sure about the haka and the rugby team but there you go

Taylorman wrote:Cool. I met so many tourists from many of the countries visiting I lost count.

It was surreal being able to watch matches with fans from overseas and hearing their stories many of which were more fun than the games themselves.

There really was a turbocharged atmosphere of fun and all things rugby its so weird its gone now just as quick as it came. Gotta get to England in 2015 cos thats the best way to enjoy the tournament... being in the middle of it..

And we'd gladly have you Taylor. Should warn you though, it's not gonna be like New Zealand. We're a football country first and foremost and while it'd be big, if you wanted atmosphere you'd need to visit us during the brief time a footie WC is on and we're still in it. Yes many of the fans are louts but it's the only time i see the whole country go stark raving bonkers over sport. If we ever get to hold it again, and we probably won't thanks to that c@*@ Blatter, id suggest you come to that instead...

...on the other hand if you hate footie, see you in 2015!

we wont be getting a footy world cup for yonks.

the great thing about the 2015 rwc isnt just the english support- its the fact that it has the best facilities stadia, links in the NH and is smack in the middle of the 6n's teams- it wont just be about english fans it will attract plenty of fans from all over the world and espeically the nations around us.

add the fact that london is full of kiwis,saffa and aussies anyway, add the fcat that there are almost as many scots,irish and welsh in england as back home- its gonna be huge

The olympics will provide the chance to learn what works and what doesn't as well, so I'd expect it will be very well run.