Today graeme went mountain biking with rob so hes getting the privelge of writing a bit about that! I just stayed in hotel and did some washing, then went out and walked around auckland for a bit. Went into town to internet cafe and did a bit of shopping. There was an indian festival on and they had lots of food stalls which looked amazing, was gutted that i was already full up with my egg sandwich from the bakers! got some rugby things to wear to the match then headed back to hotel where I met Graeme!

Graeme: Headed south of Auckland with Rob to the Hunua Ranges to do a spot of mountain biking, never actual been proper mountain biking before, but I thought it would be a bit of fun, 15km and 2 hours later im not so sure fun was the right word! I not really sure what I was expecting but i was quite surprised at how narrow the track was. We started off in the car park which wasnt too bad then into a field by this point I was starting to get the hang of being on a bike again as it has been a couple of years! Then we went on to the track or should I say the small gap in the trees, not ideal for me being wider than the bike! It was pretty hard going, up and down through the trees and streams but definetly good fun, I did feel as tho I was holding Rob back a bit altho he didn't mind and on the third or fourth track when I was more confident of not getting lost I said to him to race ahead and I would get him at the end. Minutes later I caught up with him as he had planted himself in a tree, just a few bruises! I can't say too much as I never fell off but I just got off and pushed at some of the more tricky bits! Can definitely see me doing it again as it was a good work out, back to the hotel for a nice relax in the pool with the aching legs and the sores from the saddle. How I enjoyed the 4.5 km walk on the fan trail that night to Eden park, the walk back was fine cause England were going home!

Back to Aly - We went to swimming pool for a bit, then got set for the France vs England game. It started at 8.30pm, but the Wales vs Ireland game as on beforehand so we walked the fan trail so Eden park about 5pm so we could watch that game. Fan trail ws fab again, everyone in good spirits! A lot of the houses just before Eden park have put lots of effort in! They had the teams flags up, a house even had their tele out in the garden so that everyone could watch the game! There was a house across from Eden park which was doing face painting for a small donation and loads of people were there, I'm sure they would have made some good money! Thinking I should start a wee face painting stall at lochshore! Lol! so got to Eden park just after 6pm and watched the Wales vs ireland game. Was a pretty good game and wales won. Sad to see Ireland out but glad Wales got through as they are pretty good team! Had a bit before our game started so got talking to the 3 guys next to us. they were quite old and had came from Christchurch for the two quarter finals in Auckland. These games were actually meant to be in Christchurch but cos of the earthquake they had been rearranged in Auckland. The guys were saying they were meant to be going to every game in Christchurch but they were all cancelled. It was a shame and Bob, the guy next to me, was telling us all about it and how it just feels as if the rugby world cup isn't in new Zealand cos no one is going to Christchurch! They were really nice to talk to and we had good banter going throughout the game! game was pretty good, was France vs England, and France were awesome! Was 16-0 to france by half time so that was pretty good and we (along with most of the crowd) were desperate to see England going home! The second half wasn't so good! England scored a try and got a few points which took it up to 16-12 with about ten mins to go! We thought oh no they actually have a chance here!but luckily France got a penalty which made it 19-12. Final whistle went and we were chuffed England were leaving! Our seats were awesome, there was a few times we almost made it onto tele! In front of us at the beginning there was three ladies with their kids who were toddlers. We were like why would you bring young kids to rugby, then at the end they came back down and the players all came over to them! Turns out they were the French players WAGS and their kids! So the players took then on the pitch and walked around with them! Was pretty cute! walked fan trail back into auckland, smirking at some sad english people along the way! England have been quite a controversial team over here with their wild nights out in queenstown and their cheating when they swapped the ball! Saw a thing on the tele that said they didnt let the world cup ruin their boozy lads holiday, hehe! so its now france vs wales in the first semi final!should be a good game! Went back to hotel and bed!