9-28-11 USA vs. Italia World Cup Match by Zander

               Yesterday we drove all the way to Nelson (which is a 6 hour drive from Christchurch) to watch this rugby game. The drive was really boring!!! We were almost late, so we didn’t have time to get dinner in Nelson.  We had to buy dinner at the game. The security is really tight. They don’t let you bring food, water, and alcohol. They don’t let you bring your water bottle in. It isn’t like the water bottles are going to blow up or something. They even shut down the streets in all direction, so everyone has to walk to the game. When we had checked in and had gone through security, we were finally let into the stadium to go to our seats.

            When we were settled in, we watched the band play. It was really cool because they did the Hakka. They did lots of other dances too. While the band was playing, the rugby teams warmed up. It was pretty entertaining watching all theirs big guys tackling each other when they stretch out; they roll around on their heads. I think that they do that so when they go into scrums, they don’t break their necks. It was pretty fun to watch. When all the players went in to their locker rooms,  my dad got us Fish and chips and for my parents  a 4 pack of beer. Then the teams came out and they sang there National anthems. We sang along with the American one, my mom almost broke a window. Then they took the starting position.

           

            When they kicked off everyone screamed. The lady siting behind me kept on yelling “I love you to number 22” really loud all through the game. It was really annoying, and it is not like he doesn’t get that every game. They were pretty evenly matched but I knew Italia was going to win. By the first half they were beating USA by one try and a few penalties.  During half time everyone was going to the bath room. So when I went I couldn’t use the Urinals so I had to use an actual toilet. After that, I went back to my seat and watched commercials on TV. There are some pretty funny ones about cheap beer. Then when the players took the field, everyone cheered and hurried to get back to their seats. In the second half, the crowed made a really good wave that went around the stadium 3 times. All the crowds’ attempts in the first half didn’t work. They were able to do it 3 times in the second half, I was pretty impressed.

            The Italian got a few more penalty goals and one more Try. The US did pretty well but they didn’t score any more tries. The final score for the game was 10 to 27 which pretty close game is. When the game ended I was sad that the US didn’t win.  They did pretty well, considering that they aren’t a rugby nation. I had a great time at the game, and I am sad that we aren’t going to any more rugby game.

            Over all, both teams had different strategies. The US always paused when they got the ball. They did that to decide what they were going to do next. If they were a little more fluid, they could have won. Italia had that mastered and could play that ball really well. And that is why they won the game and the USA had to go home.