What Goes On Tour from Auckland to Wellington
After a thrilling first test at Eden Park I decided to move on with urgency, my immediate focus now drawn to the tasks that remain ahead on tour. The first of which is our third visit to Wellington in the last ten days. We had some distance to travel but we wouldn't be alone. The ghosts of every roadside meal consumed along the way will haunt us until the very end. Their number increases like clockwork but we steel ourselves and press on.
Around midday Sunday we departed Auckland and just before dusk pulled our herculean RV in at Spa Thermal Park on the outskirts of Taupo. There I introduced Jamie Wall & the film crew to one of my favourite streams in all of Aotearoa - Otumuheke Stream. A natural hot spring runs through it's veins mixing with the cool water to produce a delightful blend that tops out at around 42 degrees. We clambered down to nestle among the rocks a while, you can watch that all unfold here.
Feeling revived we continued into Taupo and ate an enormous roast pork dinner at a lakeside tavern before parking up for the night at Taupo DeBretts Hot Springs & Pools. Debretts is an icon of the industry and a landmark of nostalgia for me personally. I'm more than delighted we have been able to tick off the big three on this tour. (Hanmer Springs, Polynesian Spa, Debretts).
On Monday morning I ate a potato top pie and half a ham, cheese, & tomato panini before getting behind the wheel. I don't recall exactly what it was I ate in Taihape but at Bulls I purchased and ate fried chicken from the Four Square. By the time we arrived in Paraparaumu to reminisce at my childhood rugby club I felt like a piece of shit. You can probably see that for yourself.
We'll have more tonight from Westpac Stadium where the Hurricanes will rip into the British & Irish Lions.
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The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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