Rugby World Cup Final 2011 Nz vs France

So the big day was here! the final of RWC 2011! We woke up with that nervous/excited feeling u get! picked up graemes rental camera then headed into town where we met my friend Catherine for lunch. The place was hoaching, had lunch on vulcan lane which was lovely! Then we decided to go and have a wonder down the front! Bearing in mind it was 3/4pm and the game didnt start till 9pm, the pubs and the fanzones were just crazy! The main fanzone down the front was completly full, and its capacity was 12000 people! So they opened one along the road a bit for 14000 and the queue for that was mad! Everyone had got into the spirit with dressing up and just a great feeling about the place! Wondered for an hour or so then made our way back to clares by walking the fan trail. Again everyone was in good spirits! We stopped half way at a facepaint stall and I got my face painted. was actually awesome, had my face in quarters of black and White with a kiwi, a fern and NZ written on it. It was free which was even better! Graeme wasn't keen on the face paint so he just let me get on with it! By now we were getting so excited! Headed back to the camper and got ready with all our gear. Facepaints, all blacks tops, kilts, flags, inflatable hand, black wig and world cup necklaces and we were ready! Walked the fan trail for the last time and it just felt awesome! Being a part of it all from the beginning till the final stage was fab! Got a few pics along the way with fan trail mascot. Got to the stadium about 8pm and seats werent too bad, just behind the goalposts! On the way a few people asked to take my photo cos of my facepaint lol! Was some entertainment before hand, the nz army band played. They were really good and funny, they danced and half way through a song they stopped and did the Haka lol! Certainly kept us entertained. Just before the players came out, Hayley Westerna came out and sang the World in Union! Was a bit emotional as this was the end of the rugby and we had listened to that song the whole of the 2 months! Got a flashback of us singing in the campervan with the boys and trying to reach the high notes lol! Then the players came out, did the anthems then all blacks started the Haka! Well I don't think anyone in the stadium knew what was going to happen next! Normally the other team just stand there but the French formed into a V shape, the captain at the front then they formed into one line and started moving forwards towards the all blacks! The crowd went wild, just something thats not done a lot and it was like the frenchs reply saying there were going to bring it! And boy did they bring it! Probably one of the most nailbiting games we have ever watched! The first half saw nz scoring a try, crowd going wild, a few missed penalties from piri weepu, Aaron cruden off injured and frances equivalent off injured! Was a lot happening but not a lot of points! After half time, was still as exciting! France scored a try and converted, nz got penalty kick and both sides were fighting for the win! France certainly brought it to the all blacks, as it wasn't as one sided as the papers had suggested it would be! The last ten minutes was so nerve-racking! I actually sat on my seat with my head in my hands grabbing at my wig, I couldn't watch! The score was 8-7 to nz and France were pretty close to their side. The last 30 seconds the whole crowd just started counting down, and it was like slow motion! Was almost silent as the final whistle went then the whole place just erupted! Eveyone was hugging each other, tears were flowing and flags waving like mad! Was a fantastic feeling and quite emotional! Seeing the players so stoked made us smile! Took a bit for the stage to get set up and a land rover brought the cup in, but no one left the stadium not even the French! France went up and got their medals, they got an amazing cheer as they had certainly stepped up to the mark! Then it was the all blacks turn! well the crowd went crazy, as did the whole country! There was lots of fireworks, again it was awesome! Words can't describe the atmosphere, especially when ritchie mccaw lifted the trophy! AMAZING! stayed at the stadium for a while watching the players do a lap of honour and the reaction to everything! Then we walked into town and met rob and sheena who were just back from fiji, they had managed to catch the game at the airport! Spent a few hours just walking around auckland soaking it all up, then headed back to camper about 3am and bed! What a fantastic night!