All Blacks soak up London sun, sights, sounds
Rookie wing Nehe MilnerSkudder, who is on his first visit to England, said he knew a bit about the country because his mum likes watching Coronation Street.
The All Blacks surely cannot believe their good fortune. Since arriving in London around midday Friday (local time) they have been lodged among some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, subjected to warm, sunny weather and been able to avoid the detection of any overenthusiastic rugby heads as they stroll the pavements.
Following their arrival at Heathrow, the All Blacks were immediately whisked to their hotel, told to suit-up and get themselves down to the Tower of London for their World Cup welcome ceremony.
Having listened to several speeches and been presented with caps and commemorative paper weights, the players signed autographs and posed with fans before returning to their digs.
A short walk around the streets to shake off the jet-lag would have paid immediate dividends; it could have led them to Tower Bridge, a view of the River Thames or the architectural wonders of modern buildings such as the Gherkin, Walkie-Talkie, Shard and Cheesegrater.
Those who cared to follow the Thames would have come across sights such as the Monument to the Great Fire of London, Leadenhall Market and St Paul’s Cathedral.
Even for the veterans who have made annual pilgrimages to the northern hemisphere over the last decade, the sight of London basking in such warmth must be appreciated.
Rookie wing Nehe MilnerSkudder, who is on his first visit to England, said he knew a bit about the country because his mum likes watching Coronation Street. Milner-Skudder was quick enough to add that he knew Coro St was set in Manchester and not London, but you could see what he was getting at; this is all the start of a new adventure for the young man.
Has London gone ga-ga about the World Cup like New Zealand did in 2011? Nope.
If you look hard enough you find flags and banners lining the streets, and the All Blacks did their bit to please commercial partner AIG by attending a function which drew the interest of rugby fans and curious pedestrians alike.
Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick ambled around, chatting to players and corporate types before being handed a microphone and offering some anecdotes about his playing days.
Everyone seemed happy enough. But there is none of the all-consuming hype and excitement that was so prevalent in Auckland during the lead-up to the opening test between the All Blacks and Tonga in 2011. Maybe that will build over the coming days? Or perhaps the people in England won’t get too fizzed about the World Cup until they see their countrymen take on Fiji at Twickenham in the tournament opener this weekend.
None of this is the All Blacks’ concern. Business starts for them when they move to their training base near Twickenham, away from the tourists and the innercity.