End of the game - I don't like that the first pictures I select aren't the first ones published!! The teams played hard and here they are shaking hands and chatting! All Blacks were amazing - running, passing and scoring! Final Springboks 23 - All Blacks 35! Our African friend who helped set up the outing and drove the van said on the way to the game that the All Blacks had lost three in a row - he could not remember any other time when they had done that. He predicated they would be like wounded animals and play their best - they did!
Playing Rugby! The pitch or field is huge - 100 meters by 70 meters. One of the best players for South Africa got a yellow card in the win the week before in Pretoria - so he is out for four games!!
Lining up at the beginning of the game - All Blacks performing their traditional dance - the Haka, before each international contest - they have been doing that since 1905! The South African team lined up and was respectful - the rowdy people around us - not so much! Notice there were three men in traditional Zulu dress behind the Springboks!
After introductions with fire and fireworks - the teams lined up for each of the countries flag and national anthems. See the camera man on a Segway scooter!
Introductions of the All Blacks! Good thing there was a big screen at the end so we could see them better. They seemed larger and older than the Springboks team!
Fireworks when the Springboks were introduced! Such noise and fun!!
Both teams signs on the field for the introductions. I missed cheerleaders and a marching band!! The loudspeakers kept playing US music - Sweet Caroline I remember. The halftime had an African singer who closed with Whitney Houston's - I will Always Love You!!!
This huge airplane came right over the field toward us! See the post on fb from the pilots view!
When they throw in the ball from the sidelines - two teammates hold up their player to catch it! This was during practice with the Springboks practice men in pink jerseys...so interesting!
Another practice drill - they were on our end of the field so we could see what they were doing - passing drill. It was a lot of fun...pretty sure Elder Smith would not go again - I would! I looked up online and Rugby was set to rules by two schoolboys in 1845 in the Rugby school! A game similar was Cornish curling and it had been played for over 100 years! There are two associations - Rugby Union is the main one - and they have the World Cup every four years. Rugby :League is the other one - they use 13 players - Union uses 15. Now you know more about Rugby! Only the Soccer FIFA World Cup and the Olympics are viewed more than the Rugby World Cup!
Comments
Post a Comment