WE TACKLE ANOTHER BIG SPORT IN STYLE

WHAT a night. Townsville has further cemented its place as a regional sports capital after hosting a successful double-header of the Rugby Championship, with the eyes of millions of rugby fans from all over the world tuning in.

The All Blacks and Springboks played a dynamic, hard-hitting game to start Saturday’s night extravaganza of rugby, with the All Blacks pipping the world champion Springboks courtesy of a late penalty goal to send local Kiwi fans into raptures.

Then it was time for the Wallabies and Pumas to take the stage, and while the second contest may not have been in the same class as the first, it was still a huge occasion for the region’s many rugby fans, who got to see their heroes playing up close at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

It might be an experience many of

IT MIGHT BE AN EXPERIENCE MANY OF US IN TOWNSVILLE WILL NEVER HAVE AGAIN

us in Townsville will never have again.

Rarely do two national teams play at a neutral venue, barring Rugby World Cups, and the thousands of All Blacks and Springboks fans who proudly showed their colours on Saturday night undoubtedly knew just how privileged Townsville had been to host such a sporting spectacle.

Hats off to the Argentinians as well. The Pumas are one of the most welltravelled national sporting teams in world sport and it has been many months since they have been in their home country among loved ones.

They were outplayed by the Wallabies, but credit to the Pumas for making Australia work hard for its win.

The 23,184 fans in attendance appreciated the effort, and Pumas coach Mario Ledesma – while he has experienced better days – is working hard to ensure his national team is competitive on the world stage.

What would not have gone down so well with fans was the long queues for a beer.

There was palpable frustration among those waiting patiently in the long lines, with many missing chunks of the game to get a brew.

Hopefully the issue is ironed out before Townsville’s next big sporting event.