Superpower Rugby World Cup clash lures big guns

Natalia Gantimurova and Roustam Tariko head for a waiting Mercedes after arriving in New Plymouth in a private plane. Photo / Mark Mitchell

For a game between two superpowers, it was always a given there would be plenty of star power to match.

Last night's Cold War stand-off between Russia and the United States drew many big names to a rain-soaked New Plymouth - among them Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, US Ambassador David Huebner and Prime Minister John Key - making for perhaps the flashiest VIP visit since Tom Cruise took a Taranaki residence while shooting The Last Samurai in 2003.

Miss Russia, Natalia Gantimurova, also made a glitzy entrance as she touched down at New Plymouth airport on board a private turboprop with billionaire Russian Standard Vodka founder Roustam Tariko.

Ms Gantimurova, dressed in a long, cream coat, was swiftly led from the Jetstream J32 into a Mercedes waiting on the tarmac, and smiled and waved from the backseat as photographers and cameramen tried to get a glimpse of her.

But Mr Tariko, sporting a World Cup scarf, was happy to chat to reporters as he made his way through the tiny airport terminal with an entourage of a dozen fellow fans.

"Not only am I looking forward to it, I'm actually looking at participating," he told the Herald.

"I've decided that if they will not be winning, I will go on the field and play myself."

In Forbes magazine's 2009 World's Richest People list, Mr Tariko was at number 647 with an estimated wealth of $1.1 billion.

Though new to rugby, Mr Tariko said he and Ms Gantimurova were "very excited" about the match, which they attended after a lavish vodka party in downtown New Plymouth. The USA won 13-6.

As the city came alive with hundreds of fans packing downtown pubs and a group of vintage Russian fighters flew overhead, rumours swirled that other celebs, including Hollywood actor Matt Damon, were among the punters.

But Mayor Harry Duynhoven scotched any notion of a movie star arriving.

Deputy Prime Minister Zhukov, who spent 20 minutes talking trade and sports with host John Key, was planning on watching the game and then boarding a plane straight home.

Asked about the obvious Cold War resonances of the match, Mr Zhukov laughed and played down the idea, instead paying respects to the US squad.

"The American side, I think it will be a very interesting side."

Relations weren't exactly frosty on the American side either, with most Americans quizzed laughing off the thought.

"Most of the Russian players don't even know what the Cold War is," Jack Carmen of San Francisco said.

Yet one motley mob of supporters stepping off a chartered ex-RNZAFDC-3 decked out in a bright mixture of Cossack coats and American flags could not resist poking fun.

"The Americans sat on the right, and the Russians sat on the left," one said.

Organiser Dave Gaze reckoned the vintage plane fitted the occasion.

"America versus Russia ... We thought it was a classic game so we got a classic plane, some classic mates, and we all just put together to have a classic time."