Sat, 10 Sep 2011 5:31p.m.
*It appears I was the numbskull. Had a phone call from TVNZ today explaining it was Wendy Petrie not Petra Bagust talking over the opening ceremony. Apparently it wasn't planned either, someone had left a mic on.
By James Murray
It’s early days yet but there are already some World Cup winners and losers. Here’s my view on the tournament so far.
Winners:
Tonga fans – easily the most passionate I’ve seen so far. Brought Auckland to life yesterday.
Queens Wharf – actually quite good. Decent variety of food, could be a better drinks list though. Nicer when less busy I imagine.
Volunteers – I’ve got lost a lot. They have all been friendly and knowledgeable. It’s sort of the modern day equivalent of national service, except there is a free t-shirt. Good on them.
Opening ceremony – apparently some numbskull at TVNZ thought Petra Bagust talking over the ceremony would enhance it. That aside – I put my hand out to anyone who can choreograph something so nuts. Couldn’t really work out the story – but the site of John Key dwarfed by a giant Webb Ellis trophy was a great symbol for this year’s election and quite funny.
The fan trail – only saw this when it wasn’t busy. But the art in Myers Park in particular looks like fun.
Sonny Bill Williams – shirt antics, big tackles and great layoffs – couldn’t have had a better start to the tournament.
Richard Kahui – the new Sonny Bill if Twitter is anything to go by.
Losers:
Auckland Transport – the facade of anything resembling efficiency was well and truly shattered last night. It was a shameful effort from a group of people who have had years to get this right. I don’t mean the ground staff – who I know did their best in difficult circumstances - I mean our political leaders who take such a disinterest in public transport. Modern cities are built on great public transport – Auckland is built on the back of a very unhealthy obsession with roads. Labour should come out very strong on this now – it could win them an election if they play their cards right. How this is rectified will be the mark of whether Len Brown is a successful mayor and Steve Joyce and Murray McCully have a lot of ground to make up. As Duncan Garner put it in a text to me earlier – “useless”.
Being drunk – has never been so uncool. Morons patrolling the Viaduct and Queen Street made things just a little bit shitter for all those people who just wanted to be moderately pissed. Heineken are major sponsors, scenes like last night should make them cringe. The Viaduct was full of very drunk, very young people – if only we could have a campaign for drinking in excess like we do for smoking. After all, no extremely inebriated man has ever won a fair maiden.
The All Blacks in the second half – they’re gonna have to work out a game plan if better teams than Tonga slow the ball down on them. I’ve only just woken up from that ten minute period of utter dirge.
Vodafone reception at Eden Park – all over the place last night. Sort it out please.
Greed (although technically greed here is actually a winner) – there’s a whole section at Queens Wharf that is only for people who happen to have a Mastercard. I know events need sponsors but was this really necessary? How much good press do Mastercard really think they are gaining from this?! Also it’s such a shame more of NZ’s fantastic cottage industries are not lining the fan trail – a great opportunity for them to make money in a tough year. Provision could also have been made to help out small Christchurch businesses by offering grants and space for them to trade in Rugby hot spots.
Click here for live updates of the France vs Japan and England vs Argentina games tonight.