Australia & New Zealand - Day 16 - 11th June

Day 16

Test match day has arrived.  The excitement was mounting as I got up late to find that Alfie had been out and about shopping while I slept.  So I got ready as quickly as possible and went into town for brunch.  We had decided that we would go up the sky tower before setting out for Eden Park later in the afternoon.

It was very impressive from going up in a lift with a glass floor to the magnificent views around Auckland from the top, where there was also a glass section of flooring.

The famous Auckland Sky City Tower

The glass floor in the lift

Looking down on the city

Out over the harbour

The harbour bridge as the rain comes in 

Higher still above the city 

Alfie's feet on the glass floor way above the city

Pretty soon we had to head off to Eden Park.  We were due to meet the others in a pub opposite the ground so we took a train out of the city centre direct to the ground.  There was no charge, we just had to show our match tickets and we were allowed on.

Auckland Railway Station

The pub we had arranged to meet at was called the Neighbourhood and it was not too far from Eden Park railway station.  Gradually it began to fill up and everyone we were expecting were there.  There was a magnificent panoramic window which looked it over Eden Park.

Eden Park through the window of the Neighborhood 

There was a great atmosphere in the pub with supporters from both sides getting on well together.  At first there was a majority of red shirts but the nearer we got to kick off time the black shirts swamped us out but the atmosphere just got better and better.

We left the pub in plenty of time for us to take in the atmosphere of Eden Park.  After all it is one of them world's iconic rugby grounds and who knows if we will get another chance to see it

My very best friend from Abertillery.  Gwyn Henderson, holder of the world 

record for drop goals in a season.  He got 39 and loves to tell the story

A Kiwi lady supporter

And a Welsh daffodil

A Maori warrior calls the sides out to do battle

I have seen the Haka performed many times but watching it done here after the Maori chief called them to battle made my spine tingle

Te All Blackls perform the Haka

While the Welsh look on attentively

After a good match during which the Welsh team play magnificently for 60 minutes, the All Blacks eventually ran out comfortable winners but for me, the day was the winner.  One I will never forget.