First Impressions of NZ 2011

Just arrived in Dunedin, 36 hours after leaving home in Brighton…

First impressions…

1 ) It’s a long way.. and will that put off the supposed thousands of overseas fans headed this way? I don’t know a single person bar colleagues coming to RWC.

2 ) It’s expensive. Three quid for a bottle of water.. five quid for a sandwich.. $90 dollars ( c £55 ) for airport to Dunedin city centre.. see above, perhaps another deterrent.

3 ) It’s not as brass monkeys as feared. In fact, it was a lovely day. Stunning scenery as ever on flight Auckland to Dunedin via poor old Christchurch.

4 ) RWC stuff everywhere so there’s a sense of a buzz building which is to the good.

5 ) But not if it’s all focussed on how well the All Blacks do. This is about the World Cup not about the All Blacks.

6) People as laid-back and friendly as ever.

7 ) But they’re edgy about the ABs doing well. And that could be the best thing for the Blacks. There will be no complacency this time around. They’re going to have to win it.

Five days and counting. I had my reservations about this tournament. I no longer do.