Woah man! Talk about get-out-of-jail-free cards! I reckon our Wallabies used every last credit they had with the football gods to get over the line in an uninspiring Quarter Final clash with the Springboks. Pretty crappy game to watch but hey, if France can turn it on in the Quarters, what’s to say we can’t turn it on in the Semis, or even the big one? What could possibly go wrong?

Well…there IS the fact we haven’t won against the All Blacks in over 20 years at Eden Park. That sucks. They have the home crowd. Ditto. The All Blacks are in pretty good form. Strike 3! As a glass half full kind of guy though, I like to look at what could possibly go RIGHT.

How about the passion of the Aussie fan? That has to be a plus. Imagine being out there, looking up into the stands and seeing gold jerseys standing out like a beacon against the sea of black shirts. That’s what our players need, to know we’re behind them all the way, that we scrambled and hunted down the best tickets available, laid down our hard-earned and made the trip to collectively be their ‘16^th man’.

Then there’s the Aussie spirit. When was the last time a Wallaby team laid down? Umm…NEVER!!! We know how to win World Cups. New Zealand are the specialists at falling in over one of the final hurdles and I reckon we can ensure it’s this one. What do you think?

Either way, we’ll be proud of our boys. Injury ravaged they’ve managed to beat the odds and get this far, it’s what dreams are made of right? Last post I mentioned that if we got over the line against South Africa, my mates would be headed over for the Semis no matter WHOM we played. Like me, they’d come back hoarse whether the Wallabies played the All Blacks, or Tibet! And thank god Total Sports Travel have come up with these incredible deals. I know, I work in the industry but even for me, this is red hot.

Official tickets, chartered flight (are you KIDDING ME??) and transfers to /from Eden Park for $1,495?? This, my friends is the deal of a lifetime. My guys are all over it like a rash so keep an eye out for them but if you want to be part of this ridiculous package, speak to the guys at Total Sports Travel TODAY! A plane only has so many seats right? Me? I can’t make it sadly but I know the boys will be flying the flag with pride and I cannot wait to hear their tales when they return. If you end up joining them, I’d love to hear your stories too!

With only a few days until the Wallabies face off against South Africa in the quarter finals of Rugby World Cup 2011, and the AFL and NRL all said and done for another season, I had a second to sit back and take stock of where we are as a team, and how realistic it is that we progress to the semis.

It’s no secret that the Aussies have been smashed by injury. Absolutely nailed! But throughout, Robbie Deans has maintained that we’ve always had plans in place for injury and that whilst other teams are complaining and whining, his Wallabies are actually mentally ready to do what it takes in the face of adversity. Tough words when you’re up against the defending champs on the weekend. Granted they (the Springboks) have lost Steyn but they’re still a force to be reckoned with I would’ve thought. Ditto for the All Blacks. Carter is super important but not the be all and end all I wouldn’t have thought.

It's NOT about you Bryce!!

I guess primarily I’m concerned that we could be bundled out way too early, from a tournament that almost by rights we should appear in the semi final every time at a minimum! And if we depart on the weekend, what of the tickets to that semi-final, let alone the big one, the final of RWC 2011? I know a bunch of people looking at heading over for the semi and the final should the Wallabies make it, but we’ve never even thought of the act that we wouldn’t! Perhaps that match against Ireland should have prompted more thought whether that whistle happy Kiwi referee Bryce Lawrence cost us the game or not!

I guess the good thing is we can still decide. Auckland IS a cracking place to be this time of year and for us Aussies, getting there and back is a no-brainer. Add to that the accommodation that Total Sports Travel still has available and it’s all too easy. But would YOU go to watch someone other than the Aussies play? At the end of the day it IS the finals of a Rugby World Cup, and it’ll be a while before it’s right on our front doorstep again won’t it?

The Opening Ceremony will be nothing compared to my mates!

My mates have decided to wait until after the quarter-final on Sunday afternoon to book their packages. Knowing them however, they’ll go regardless as they love the game, and more to the point love a party and I am assured by some of our crew that have gone over it’s party central in New Zealand right now! It’s a bit weird you can still get tickets to the World Cup semis and final I reckon, but hey, maybe that’s the rugby way?

I hope the Aussies win. I hope my mates get to see the boys take on whoever they might face in the semi and progress to the final of Rugby World Cup 2011, and not least of all for the fact that my stock of beer will survive with them gone! Can the Wallabies make it? Who else is waiting to book their tickets till after Sundays game?

Remember to look here for your tickets and accommodation, and if you see my mates over there, turn and walk the other way unless you love a beer or twenty and can chat rugby till dawn!