Resistance is pointless. For the next two months, arguably the biggest sporting event held in New Zealand will be inescapable. So to avoid a mauling you may as well embrace it.
For die-hard fans, visitors to New Zealand and even those who’ve already had enough of the hype, we have put together a Stuff top 10 survival guide.
Leave your tips for surviving below.
1. Embrace the tourist – go on, give them a friendly hug.
With around 95,000 visitors expected, there’s going to be a lot of people in fancy dress, singing rugby chants and generally spreading good cheer. The influx of tourists is arguably what brings the tournament alive. So if you see any camera-wielding, lost-looking tourists help them out.
2. Adopt a minnow like Namibia or Russia (it’s their first World Cup).
Apart from anything else, the tickets to these matches are guaranteed to be cheaper and you’ll probably meet some interesting fans. Why not go the whole hog and buy your new team’s kit.
3. If you can’t make any of the games, try out the fan zones and pubs around the country – there really is something exciting about watching the games with others.
4. Show support for Canterbury. The February quake took away the garden’s city seven RWC matches – five pool matches and two quarter-finals – but the Government has put $650,000 towards a special fan zone at Hagley Park along with a festival of events in Christchurch. While you’re there why not inject a few dollars into the local economy by eating out and enjoying a beer before donating to the RWC Christchurch Appeal.
5. Arrange a World Cup sweepstake among your friends and family. Even if you don’t have any interest in rugby, a sweepstake will provide a frisson of excitement about the results. How about a morning tea where everyone is given a team and has to bring the national dish?
6. Take part in the World Cup festivities… when it suits you. There are hundreds of events going on around New Zealand – you don’t have to be a footy fan to enjoy these. Checkout the REAL New Zealand Festival for details.
7. For those of us who are just sick of the screening, repeating and endless analysing clogging up TV channels, Channel Four is promoting itself as the ‘Home Of Not Rugby’. Creative director Tony Bradbourne says the campaign isn’t really about being anti-rugby, per se, it’s more about being pro other forms of entertainment and it appears the risk has paid off with 90,000 people joining their Facebook Page.
8. Attend a public training – it’s free!
9. Be nice to the volunteers. They’re vital to the whole event. If you see one, clap them on the back, tell them what a key job they’re doing, compliment them on their uniform, or bake them something nice! It’ll make their day, and yours.
10. Denial. Pretending you’ve never heard of the cup will drive rugby fans mad… “is that football?” and “who’s playing?”
TIP: One for the non-rugby lovely women stuck with a rugby-mad partner when it’s not going their way: don’t tell them to: “Get over it, it’s only a game.” Somehow that’ll only fuel his frustration.
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