It’s official. We are not the only rugby obsessed nation in the world. There’s one over this side of the world too. I’m in Wales for this next fortnight leading up to the semi-finals in Paris, and for the first few days I was here the main headlines in the papers and on TV were the crisis in Welsh rugby following their exit from the Rugby World Cup at the hands of Fiji.

It’s great to be somewhere you don’t have to hunt high and low to find newspaper articles featuring the Rugby World Cup, and to actually find those stories heading the sports news instead of being buried behind three pages of football results. Not to mention walking around the streets and seeing kids with rugby balls all heading off to practice in the late afternoon. I haven’t actually clapped eyes on a soccer ball since being here. It’s brilliant!

What has surprised me though, is that the Welsh didn’t see their demise coming. Seriously, they were convinced they were going to be playing in the quarter finals – to the point where there have been stories in the papers about fans complaining that they have forked out hundreds if not thousands of pounds for match tickets, airfares and accommodation in Marseille this weekend. Except that their team isn’t there, and they want a refund. Apparently those who bought tickets through the clubs can get a refund on the tickets, but there are no refund for flights or accommodation. Frankly, regardless of whether my team was playing, if I lived here permanently and had paid to go to the south of France for the weekend I wouldn’t be worrying about who was on the field. I’d just be heading for the sun. There ain’t much of that in Wales at the moment. And you could always sell your tickets outside the ground and get a bit of dosh back that way.

Meanwhile the other main story is who will coach Wales next? It’s kind of like the poisoned chalice really, but I guess someone needs to take the job on. The initial favourites have dipped out of contention with South Africa’s Nick Mallet all but signed on the dotted line to take over Italy after the World Cup, and Eddie Jones confirming he’ll be coaching club rugby in England. The names of Warren Gatland (who suspiciously pulled out of the assistant coaching position for the 2008 Chiefs’ season a few weeks ago – conspiracy theory #547) and Robbie Deans remain high on the list, but apparently poor old Steve Hansen isn’t wanted “by the people”. Mind you, those same people supposedly wanted Gareth Jenkins and look where that landed them.

I’m off to the Millenium Stadium on Saturday to watch the All Blacks take on France. It will be my first time at the stadium and I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere. It will not be my first time watching the All Blacks play France in a World Cup knock-out game however, as I was there at Twickenham in 1999 – and still have nightmares about it to this day. Back in 1999 people were only giving France a 10% chance of winning that game. Apparently this time round it’s about 20-25%. But I don’t think any New Zealander, whether they are coach, player or fan, will be taking any notice of what is being said off the field. It all comes down to 80 minutes this weekend. So it will be a case of butterflies, sweaty palms and racing pulse – and that’s just about hoping that the trains are actually running to time and I can get to the stadium!

Tracey Nelson

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