BY SEAN FITZPATRICK
Laureus Academy Member and legendary All Blacks captain
Auckland was a very special place to be on Sunday as we celebrated the crowning of the new world champions New Zealand, after the 8-7 win over France.
After 24 years, the All Blacks have their second World Cup (copyright Getty Images)
By Emma Chesworth of Laureus
On the spot in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup
Laureus Ambassasdor Lawrence Dallaglio (second right) at last night's England 2015 Launch Night
BY SEAN FITZPATRICK
Laureus Academy Member and legendary All Blacks captain
Wales see red
By Emma Chesworth of Laureus
On the spot in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup’s Pool phase is over – 40 matches in 22 days,a period of saturation rugby action to satisfy even the most diehard fan. Just eight teams remain.
The tournament this weekend now gets down to business, knock-out rugby with Wales taking on Ireland and Australia playing S.Africa in the country’s capital city, Wellington, whilst England play France and New Zealand are matched against Argentina at Eden Park in Auckland.
We have all been enjoying a great festival of rugby during the first phase of the World Cup with the prospect of more to come, but this week we had a reminder of the pain that is just below the surface in New Zealand.
While we applaud the tries, share the joy of the fans and look forward expectantly to the climax of the tournament, it’s difficult, certainly for a Kiwi like myself, to forget the Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River mining disasters. New Zealand is quite a small country and most of us know someone who has been affected.
This week Eight All Black players and coach Graham Henry visited the earthquake-devastated Christchurch red zone and saw where buildings once stood and were told which areas were ear-marked for future demolition. They paused at the Bridge of Remembrance, which will be saved as a symbol of the earthquake.
