All Blacks off to winning start
The All Blacks got the seventh Rugby World Cup off to a winning start
on Friday, defeating Tonga 41-10 in front of a capacity 60,000 crowd at
Eden Park.
It was not an entirely convincing opener from the New Zealanders
despite the lop-sided scoreline, but skipper Richie McCaw said it had
been a good enough way to open their campaign to win the Webb Ellis Cup
for the first time in 24 years.
Garnering a bonus point for scoring more than four tries, the win
brought roars and screams of delight from tens of thousands of fans who
had converged during the day on Auckland’s picturesque harbour
waterfront.
The match was preceded by a glittering 30-minute opening ceremony
which celebrating the country’s Maori heritage and unrivalled rugby
pedigree
Then Bernard Lapasset, the French chairman of the International Rugby
Board (IRB) officially declared the tournament open.
“New Zealand will be an exceptional host of the tournament which New
Zealanders and rugby fans alike will be proud of,” said Lapasset, who
has been head of the IRB since the last World Cup in France four years
ago.
At stake for the 30-strong All Blacks squad was a glorious place in
their country’s history books should they hold the golden trophy aloft
at Eden Park on October 23 or, should they fail, ignominy and
opprobrium.
The mass of fans downtown, some of whom were from Australia, Europe
and South Africa were treated to a succession of impromptu hakas, the
celebrated Pacific Islands warrior dance made famous by the All Blacks.
Eden Park, refurbished and enlarged for the occasion, was packed as
the opening ceremony started and the anticipation moved up another gear
as it drew to a close and both teams marched out on to the field to
perform their own hakas.
The All Blacks v Tonga clash was the first of a 48-match festival
spread over 13 cities ranging from Whangarai near the tip of the North
Island to Invercargill 1,290 kilometres (800 miles) away on the bottom
of the South Island.
England, the champions in Australia in 2003, were among the eight
teams in action on Saturday taking on Argentina in Dunedin, while
reigning champions South Africa had a tough opener in store on Sunday
against Wales.
“It’s incredibly exciting,” New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said
as he headed to Eden Park. “New Zealand’s done everything it can to be
prepared, there’s a really friendly atmosphere out there and people are
loving what’s going on.”
“This is it now, this is the real thing. The whole world is here.
It is where you want to be,” said England manager and victorious 2003
captain Martin Johnson.
All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu, who is of Tongan descent, played a
starring role at the opening ceremony capping nationwide preparations
that began in 2005 when New Zealand won the hosting rights. AFP |