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!

As an Aussie fan I can’t even remember when I was able to watch a World Cup match at a reasonable hour  for ANY sport. Thus I was absolutely stoked that the opening game for our Wallabies at Rugby World Cup 2011 was played not at 1.30am..but 1.30pm! Perfect!

A bunch of mates, BBQ, a few eskies and we were good to go.

As the match developed, it became clear that the Aussies are a real chance in this World Cup and a couple of my mates went looking for tickets and packages on their i-Phones. The best deals they came up with were via Total Sports Travel who offer not only fly-in fly-out one match experiences but also semi final and final packages with tickets and accommodation. That’s the clincher! We thought all Rugby World Cup tickets were sold out!

Green & Gold...LOVE IT!

Imagine being in a sea of green and gold at Eden Park stadium at the Rugby World Cup semi final and final with everything conceivable taken care of leaving you enjoy the experience and have no worries whatsoever. The guys found some random tickets available also to the remaining group games but their focus (and their annual leave requests) is all about the finals.

Has anyone else been to a Rugby World Cup final? How early will they need to get to the stadium, I mean we all know Eden Park is not exactly ‘commuter friendly’! What should my mates expect and are these last minute Rugby World Cup packages (click here to check them out) the way to go?

Me? I can’t make it after AFL AND NRL Grand Finals, however I assure you if my mates are there, you’ll see them on TV no doubt, for some reason they’re ALWAYS captured by the cameramen! Haha.

I’ll keep you posted but if YOU are travelling with Total Sports Travel, let me know the deal so I can pass it on!

The unconquerable Eden Park!

Courtesy of Guest Blogger ‘Anon.’