Kiwi Kids Books

Eden Park wrapped in plastic

It was William Shakespeare who wrote that “all the world’s a stage”. If that is the case, and you are an All Black then your stage has been redeveloped, re configured and then wrapped in plastic. Last Sunday was the official opening of the main stage that will be used for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The main stage is none other than Eden Park.

Being an All Black rugby fan I could not pass up the opportunity to see this new sentence written into our long rugby history. But putting this plan into action was not going to be an easy equation. Being a family man means that no longer can I just announce that I am going here or there. Events like this need to be earned and bartered for when you have tied the knot to the woman you love.

Fortunately, I am as good at this as Ritchie McCaw is at the breakdown; a pure master. Stage one of the preparation began a month back when I suggested a romantic weekend in Auckland was needed for the wife and I. A weekend of long walks on the beach and then a visit to a Saturday night show seemed an easy price to pay for a visit to the hallowed turf. The Saturday evening show caused me to miss my beloved Canterbury team win The Shield, but it was a price I was willing to pay. Stage two began early Sunday morning. I casually opened the morning paper while asking my wife what we had planned for the day. Before a breathe passed her lips, I was in like Jimmy Cowan snipping run and announced that a walk in ‘The Park’ would be a great end to a great weekend. She fell for my plan hook, line and sinker.

I think the first she realised I had hoodwinked her came as we approached the stadium. The new development has cost $350 million and has extended the stadiums capacity to 60,000. It is therefore hard to hide. But by then she knew Eden Park was in my sites and there was no stopping me.

The first thing that hits you when you wander to the stadium is the plastic skin which envelops the new South Stand.  Large fern shaped trusses are covered in a see through plastic covering, resembling a large bubble wrapped present. I couldn’t help but wonder if you could pop one of those things.  Wandering through the new stadium you have to be impressed by both the size and the facilities. A total of 50 corporate boxes form the spine of the stadium and the more than 500 toilets means facilities are close at hand for a nervous one just before kick-off. A large concourse circles the entire park which makes movement a breeze and refreshments close at hand. For the blokes there are 300 plasma screens around the stadium, 2 giant 110sqm outdoor replay screens and Wi-Fi available for a small charge. This is truly a world class stadium and the only disappointing  aspect was the lack of a plasma screen in the male toilets.

From there it was into the changing rooms to check the facilities. Apart from my wife complaining about the communal showers, something a woman finds hard to understand, these changing rooms are massive.  Large private change areas set aside for individual players lead onto  a warm up space large enough for a small African nation to relocate into.  There are rooms for referees, drug test and even a ‘ball changing room’ which I found rather baffling but it proves nothing has been left to chance in the new national stadium.

But for me the highlight of the day was being able to venture onto the turf. After bustling my way through the crowds of small boys and excited Dads I stood on the 40m line, slightly off centre. I then predicted aloud to my wife this is where Carter will have to nail a penalty with 5 minutes to go to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup. People around me starred but I didn’t care as I placed my imaginary ball on one of my shoes and took the 5 paces back and one to the right that Carter takes. I felt eyes looking at me as I carefully acted out my Daniel Carter kicking routine, something I do daily after my morning shower in front of the mirror.  Two deep breathes as I slowly approach the ball, right foot planted, left foot through….contact. I watched as the ball sailed off my boot to the right of the posts, suddenly time seemed to stop, every one of the 18,000 Eden Park visitors watch as the ball started to come around in the developing breeze. We waited, we watched as one, as the ball continued to come around in the breeze …….. then we rose as one  and cheered as the ball flew over the black dot. Mark my words people – Daniel Carter to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a 42m penalty in the 78min.