Races, Rugby and Pizza - the NZ way of Life

Yeay, finally, today's the day of days - I'm going to see a Rugby game in real: Crusaders vs Blues at the AMI Stadium in CHCH. Since the All Black won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 the passion around rugby in new zealand has rosen to a hype. The Crusaders are the home-team of Canterbury or so - but doesn't matter - it is also the team where Ritchi McCaw - the All Blacks Captain is playing, so I might get a chance to get a glimpse of this handsome guy. Kick-off's about 7.30pm (my time) and I will ensure that there are a lot of new zealandish habits covered...

So, update:
Game was awesome. Although I didn't quite understand the rules. Something with you can only pass backwards but you can kick or run with the ball forwards, and also the Rugby for dummies - vids on youtube weren't that helpful. But anyway - our team won!! 59:12 was the final score. And good for them they did, as we had -4 degrees this eve and I had everything on I could find in my wardrobe - even a blanket.

Galloping entering of the mascots of our heros: the Crusaders!
Of course dressed up as knights and swinging a sword. As do the cheering fans.

 

The game starts and the players are more often lying on the ground

than running over the field. Everytime a try (5 points) or a score (2 points) were achieved,
flames of fire soar up into the sky from behind our oppositing stand. what a spectacle!

A so-called 'scrum' -
a way of restarting the game after a accidential infringement

 

Yeay, Crusaders! We won!

Afterwards this triumph our cheering group checked out the bars in CHCH. Unfortunately we managed only one: the Revival. and I can say: what a pub culture: incredible horrible. I'm praising europe for that. First, if you're not early enough you have to queue for almost half an hour to get in and even then its not sure as after midnight the entrance is closed (and it was really just an ordinary bar!!) Probably the next time I have to dress up like one of the chicks - just appear at the entrance and are waved in - jup, and I think they could easily step in for one of those window-ladies in Amsterdam. There were some really breathtaking outfits...! haha. Anyway, the prizes are amazing too: 8.50 nzd for the cheapest beer. really guys?! damn. no wonder that students are creating these stupidious drinking games, like 'possum'.
I have no idea how the other pub's are, but I assume quite the same, as there is not much left from that flourishing nightlife-scene, after the earthquake series. What a pity... But I'll definitely give it a second try, but first finish the last weeks of uni. So, thats all for now. cheerio.