New Zealand - North Island

Quick update - for those looking for Fiji narrative, please click on to 'Older Blogs.' Thanks, everyone.

Arrived in New Zealand to find that they are some way off getting their grounds in shape for the Rugby World Cup 2011. See pictures above! Shocked to find main stand at one club looking in need of a bit of repair and a lick of paint. Scratched our heads to find any hospitality tents or even a bar area for few sherberts, and the playing surface looked a tad dodgy too. Hope Auckland's Eden Park, which hosts the final, will be in better nick.
Never like this at Broadacre, or Parc Mawr. What will our boys make of playing on such pitches we don't know. Seems to us the Kiwis have got an advantage from the off, and how are mam and dad going to get tickets in such a cramped seating area, and they'll get wet when the roof leaks, as it's sure to do.
Not content with making us suffer an unfair advantage, the NZ papers are full of this Sonny Bill Williams fellow, who many Kiwis reckon is the best thing since sliced bread. Let's hope Ryan can get hold of this new 'fifth-eights' Canterbury wonder boy and stop him in his tracks. C'mon Wales.