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You are here: Home » All Blacks year by year » 2014 » 2014 All Black tour Diary » AB tour diary Days 4-5 in London, Lille 8-9 November 2014
AB tour diary Days 4-5 in London, Lille 8-9 November 2014
The Loveridge and Quinn tours for Williment Sport Travel happily at Twickenham 2014
9 November 2014
All Black Dairy Days 4 and 5 2014
Day 4 was Saturday November 8 2014.
Our tour buses were scheduled to leave the hotel at midday. Your wise old correspondent thought this would be too late for an arrival at Twickenham at a reasonable hour, especially with a packed attendance expected. So we left at 11.30am. And then arrived at the famous ground far too early!
It was no matter as everyone in our two travelling groups were really 'amped' for being at the ground and taking in the atmosphere.
After a really impressive buildup of anthems, singing and the moment's silence the game itself started out in dry weather. In the end it really hosed down such as I have never seen before at Twickenham. Luckily our seats were high enough to be clear of the storm.
Afterwards to move the Quinn and Loveridge supporters groups through the departing hoards was a bit of an issue, especially as the rain continued. But it was the good humour of our people (the All Blacks having won the game really helps) and the rain storm which also assisted the people to hurry to the bus park. Nevertheless one of our party of nearly 80 people got separated from the 'bunch' and as he was from my tour old muggins had to go back through the rain to find him.
Fortunately with some wet weather pants found at the bottom of my kit and a cell phone our misplaced bloke was quickly located. He had just followed the wrong group coming out of the ground. With everyone dressed in similar parka's and plastic who could blame him really. Then we travelled back to the hotel with a gentle buzz of satisfaction in the bus at the smoothness of the day's arrangements - not to mention the result of the game.
In the evening a few drinks 'went west' in celebration of the victory. There's something about wee New Zealand beating the 'Mother Country' which still lingers warmly in the minds of Kiwis. That feeling, which dates back to the first win in 1905, certainly made the beer taste sweeter tonight.
Day 5 was Sunday November 9 2014.
Up early today at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel and this time it was our two travelling groups to be on the coaches for a short ride to St Pancreas Station. Today we are riding to France on the Eurostar train service. We are headed to Lille in the north. The ride on Eurostar was as smooth as silk, a pleasure to be on board in fact.
We are heading to France to be here ahead of the Commemorations tomorrow of the start of WWI. Our presence here will be particularly poignant having seen the poppies at the Tower of London the other day. Tomorrow we will have just a glimpse of how the French nation will reflect on the same war's beginning.
In Lille we are staying at the Mercure Hotel and while it is modern and well-appointed, right next to the main 'Grande Place' there has been some merriment expressed by our people at the size of the rooms. The words 'tres petite' come to mind!
We are here for two nights. After our visit to the war sites tomorrow we will be in Paris by nightfall.
It's a good tour we are having with nice Kiwi people on board.
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Every day there is Rugby History 17 September 2006
Click to show It's three Rugby World Cup titles in a row for the Black Ferns!
And it's three titles too for captain Farah Palmer. In the final in Edmonton, Canada, New Zealand beat England 25-17
A-Z of Rugby
Click to show FARR-JONES, NICK
FARR-JONES, NICK
New South Wales and Australia
63 internationals for Australia 1984–93
As captain of the superb Wallaby World Cup-winning team of 1991, Nick Farr-Jones became one of the best-known men of modern rugby. His authority as a player and captain was crowned when he received the cup at Twickenham from Queen Elizabeth II and held it high for the rugby world to see. For Farr-Jones the 12–6 win over England was a culmination of a long pursuit of success for him and Australian rugby. Looking back, it can be seen that his career was regularly signposted with success, and not just in 1991.
Two significant records tumbled for him in 1990. First, in his seventh season as the Wallaby halfback, he took over from the great John Hipwell as Australia’s most-capped player in that vital position. He also became Australia’s most-capped captain, the World Cup final being his 31st appearance as team leader. And he and his partner Michael Lynagh cruised past John Rutherford and Roy Laidlaw’s old record for most tests together for any country as a scrumhalf–flyhalf combination.
Nick Farr-Jones made his first tour to Fiji in 1984 and played his first test on Twickenham against England. He was an immediate success, and in combination with Mark Ella played a vital role in the Wallaby team that went on to win a Grand Slam over British countries. Two years later he helped Australia win the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand.
The elegant yet aggressive style of Farr-Jones marked him as one of the world’s most significant modern players. He was possessed of a slick pass (in the Australian scrumhalf tradition of men who had gonr before him; Cyril Burke, Des Connor, Ken Catchpole and John Hipwell), he was a fast and explosive runner, and had a wide tactical knowledge of the game (including the best ways to exploit the blindside). His strength and fitness, enthusiasm and popularity among his fellow players, not to mention his from-the-front style of captaincy made him one of Australia’s best of all time. Many critics also considered him, in his time, the world’s best halfback. Injury around Rugby World Cup time in 1987 restricted his appearances and performances in that series.
Farr-Jones took over the captaincy of Australia in 1988 and although Wallaby teams under his leadership lost a number of series and games, his own form did not diminish. He could count numerous successes as captain, including the World Cup final of course, plus beating England in Australia in two tests in 1988, and beating Scotland, France and New Zealand at least once on their home soil in a little over 18 months.
Nick Farr-Jones also made a tremendous contribution to Australian rugby by his personal example. He has always been a learned rugby thinker and an eloquent speaker. In the face of the enormous popularity of rugby league in Australia he has always represented his game with true style.
After his career as a player was over he also made a significant contribution as a TV commentator and in local politics and business.
10 Questions to well known sporting people
Today's KQ Rugby Quiz
After the finish of the 2011 Rugby World Cup who were the youngest and oldest players from all countries to win a World Cup medal 1987-2011?
What do you think?
Click here to show the answer.
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