Come share our year in New Zealand and return to Vermont! We spent 2011 living in Opunake, a "two pub surf town" in Taranaki. After a blessed year we return to our beloved home in the Green Mountains.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Titletown, New Zealand.
In the centre of the rugby universe we have been swept up by the excitement surrounding the 2011 Rugby World Cup, hosted by New Zealand and finishing as it should be with a New Zealand victory! Their first Rugby World Cup Championship since the inaugural World Cup in 1987. The legendary All Blacks, think Canadiens or Yankees or Celtics, the winningest rugby team in history but time and time again denied the Webb Ellis Cup since 1987. The pressure was akin to the pressure over the Red Sox now the Cubs as they tried to get the monkey off their backs. They dominate world rugby but choke when it comes to the Cup. Not this year, the Boys in Black gutted out multiple injuries to their top players and outlasted the pesky French in the final by a score of 8 to 7.
Eli at the Wellington FanZone RWC 2011 Finals All Blacks v France
We were on our holidays and trying to return to Opunake in time for the final but due to a delayed ferry, we decided to stay in the capital, Wellington, to watch it. It was pretty exciting watching the final in a "Fanzone" with thousands of other Kiwis. The excitement and anticipation prior to the game degenerating into silence and tension as the game was far too close to enjoy until the final seconds ticked off. The echoes of Al Michaels' legendary call of the final seconds of the USA vs USSR 1980 hockey epic in my mind, "Do you believe in miracles!?...Yes!"
Locally, our region, Taranaki also got in on the "hardware" as they brought home the provincial title having scored the Ranfurly Shield at the end of the season. This was highlighted by their defense of the Shield during their final home game. The Shield made a dramatic entry via helicopter to open the match.
Henrik, Shelley, Logan and Izaak entering Stadium Taranaki .
Ranfurly Shield Defense
Ready for USA v Ireland
These colors don't run!
Nuff said
Stars and Stripes down under
Irish bodysuits, they're fannnntastic! Or something...
USA v Russia
Yeah!
Lastly, though not in rugby, Eli's Kaponga Soccer Club U-15 Team took home the Title for the first time and received their trophy and medals in an awards ceremony in the basement of Peggy Gordon's, New Plymouth's Irish Pub. Ya gotta love it!
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