The Big Rugby Game Day

Saturday, October 08, 2016
Durban, South Africa
Early rise and discovered there was no flannel had to order one at reception.Asked reception if they could do washing,which they said they could so that got me caught up with it after 5-6 days away.Had breakfast and a walk down to the mall.We had to be down in the hotel lobby at 11:20am to board the bus to take us to Growthpoint Kings Park It was underneath a New Soccer Stadium built for the Soccer World Cup and only 5 Min's walk to the Rugby park for the game.The last few Km of our bus trip we had a police escort ,they take their rugby very serious over there.
 
Here we had lunch, really a midday dinner, a great meal .Drinks were included.We were not the only tour group there were several groups .The tables had either white or black table cloths on them we had to sit at the black tables ,there must have been 100-150 people there.Sat with Kerry and Margaret from Blenheim Kerry was a walking cyclopedia on rugby a very knowledgeable man but not a know all, good company 

After Lunch there was a panel of four so called legends who spoke to us about their experiences playing or being a journalist The Members were Justin Marshall, John Smit – 2003 , Ash Mayer and Bobby Skinstad 2001 this was very interesting and they had a Q & A after wards but that was limited due the time factor.
From there we walked to Kings Park Stadium to watch the game , the South African crowd was late in getting to there seats, some missing the first 10 minutes, the same thing happened at half time, some late back,
But the most amazing thing, a lot of the crowd got up and left before the end of the game when the All Blacks started to pile on the points. But in saying that, heaps of South African Supporters came up to us after the game and congratulated us on the All Blacks win.
The local crowd were very vocal especially when they managed to kick a penalty goal.
The seats we had were on the side between the Try Line and Dead Ball line.Unfortunately it was the wrong end of the paddock most of the tries being the other end.
 
After the game the All Blacks came over to thank us for there support.
After the Match we were bused back to the Hotel where we were the previous night for plenty of food and drinks .There I met up with Bede O,Malley a former Mayor of Ashburton and a chat with him and his wife Julie.He just joined the group for the week-end as he was over in South Africa on holiday. From there it was only a few minutes walk back to our hotel after that function .
 
 

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