Did you hear the one about the Welshman, the Scotsman, the Kiwi and the Aussie? This sound like it should be the first line of a particularly poor joke, but it actually describes a group of blokes we met at the New Zealand v Canada game in Oita (great stadium by the way). They met while travelling 20 odd years ago when they were all working in the US at a summer camp and two of them crashed through the wall of the other two’s room while playing rugby indoors (why do all boys do this?). They have been firm friends ever since, best men at one another’s weddings etc and they now meet every four years at the Rugby World Cup. They are currently on their 4th tournament and long may it last. They were really good company and provided us with the useful tip, if you want to get your photo taken just sew a kiwi on your hat.

I was less enamoured with the chap of ample proportions from Colorado sat next to me for the match, who turned to me and instead of apologising for sitting in half of my seat (while i was in it) just looked at me and said ” I was a prop, what can I say?” I would probably have had more sympathy if he hadn’t kept getting up for the loo/more snacks/another drink, shouting “Yes! My boys!” rather loudly in my ear every time the All Blacks got close to the ball (let alone when they scored) and criticising the way the Japanese had organised the event (apparently running out of snacks at the first game was unforgivable). The crowning glory was he and his partner left with 15 minutes to go, so not that much of a die hard All Blacks fan after all then mate.

We still had a great time and watched the All Blacks take Canada to pieces and they were far from perfect, so heaven help us should they step up a gear.