Supporter passion high ahead of Rugby World Cup final

Excitement is building on both sides of the Tasman as Wallabies and All Blacks supporters gear up for the Rugby World Cup final.

Wallabies celebrate at Twickenham Stadium.

Twickenham Stadium, where the Wallabies have won four straight matches, feels like home to the team. (AAP) Source: Press Association

It's the first time Australia and New Zealand have met in the global showpiece with so much at stake.

The Kiwis, it's more than a sport - it's a religion.

New Zealand school children across the country have been practicing their haka - New Zealand's version of the challenge that has become an essential prelude to international rugby tests involving Polynesian teams.

Auckland-based Italian chef Massimiliano De Caro has even taken three months to prepare special black mozzarella cheese balls in honour of the All Blacks.

"I want to support in this big event the All Black and I dedicate the black mozzarella for All Black. Today it's ready," De Caro told TVNZ.

In Australia, excitement is also building across all ages.

A group of Sydney school children were on hand yesterday to launch the Australian Rugby Union's latest supporter drive, lighting the Sydney Opera House in the national team's green and gold colours.

Support has also come in from other sports.

"Michael Cheika has done an outstanding job, taking pretty much a transitional team, like Ange Postecoglou with the Socceroos, same type of people, same type of jobs. Michael's walked in there and done a fantastic job and let's hope they can finish it off," said Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold.

And Australian NBA basketballer Matthew Dellavedova posted this message on Twitter:
Well-wishes even came in from the unexpected.

"The Wallabies are going to have the power of Chuck Norris' spirit there," the Hollywood actor and martial artist told the Nine Network.

For Jeremy Paul, former Wallaby and 1999 World Cup winner, the stakes couldn't be higher.

"We haven't won anything in 13 years. The last time we were in a world cup final was 2003, last time we won a world cup was back in '99. We haven't won a Bledisloe Cup series in 13 years," Paul said.

Paul moved to Australia from New Zealand at age 13 and went on to play the All Blacks many times. He knows all too well the fierce battle that awaits the Wallabies.

"It is going to be like climbing Mount Everest 50 times for the Wallabies," he said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

By Darren Mara

Source: SBS



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world