Excited: Robin McLean is going to the Rugby World Cup in London. Photo/George Novak
Rugby World Cup winning AB goal kicker Stephen Donald is hosting more than 300 rugby fanatics for a trip to the World Cup in London.
The trip of a lifetime with fellow rugby fanatics is just weeks away for Mount Maunganui man Robin McLean.
On October 21, the 55-year-old power linesman will join more than 300 other rugby fans boarding a plane to London, hosted by 2011 Rugby World Cup winning All Blacks goal kicker Stephen Donald.
The two-week tour will see guests attend the semifinals and World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium.
Mr McLean booked his ticket on the official All Blacks Tour six months ago but has been a fan of the game since his days of playing prop for Te Kuiti High School in the King Country.
It's an understatement to say he's looking forward to the trip. "I've always been a rugby nut," he said.
When his sister-in-law showed him the tour details, he decided it was time to splash out on the game he had devoted so many hours to.
A Bay local for the past 25 years, he is a staunch supporter of the Bay of Plenty Steamers and it was only sickness that kept him away from their game against Waikato at Tauranga Domain on August 30.
He had heard a rumour Donald was going to be playing for Waikato - which may have given him a chance to meet his legendary tour guide a few weeks before take-off - but was pleased to hear he had not missed out.
Mr McLean was glued to the screen that night when the World Cup All Blacks side was announced. Besides the controversial selection of Waisake Naholo - who recently received traditional Fijian treatments for a fractured leg - he was happy with the side. "It's just about the squad that I would have picked," he said.
He supported the absence of Israel Dagg and Cory Jane, "they just came back from injury and they're not fully fit", he said.
Mr McLean singled out newcomer Nehe Milner-Skudder as a likely choice for the World Cup squad during his debut season for the Hurricanes this year.
Mr McLean's loyalty is clear when asked who he thinks will be in the final. "England or Ireland." Apparently the All Blacks goes without saying.
"They've got a good chance."
Mr McLean last travelled to an All Blacks game when he went to the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney in 1983. The trip to London - which also offers the chance for sightseeing - will be the "trip of a lifetime", he said.
"I thought it's a once in a lifetime thing and I won't get to do it again." Tour organisers have already sent Mr McLean a supporter's jacket, polo shirt and bag and he has bought a couple of jerseys and had the number 3 - his number from his playing days - printed on the back ready for the occasion.
Mr McLean is one of 73 Bay of Plenty locals travelling to the Rugby World Cup with All Blacks Tours, 30 of whom are from Tauranga and one from Rotorua.
All Blacks Tours marketing manager Matt Poland said packages on fan flights hosted by Sir Graham Henry or Stephen Donald were still available through www.allblackstours.com.
Spending her days immersed in rugby, Amanda Thompson will have to wait until the final whistle on the ITM Cup before she boards a plane for the World Cup final in London.
The 27-year-old is media and events co-ordinator for the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union but plans to fly to London a few days before the final, where she's confident of seeing the All Blacks win back-to-back World Cups.
Even if she can't secure a ticket to the game, Miss Thompson plans to soak up the atmosphere with family and friends - who are on their OEs - in a London pub.
"They are excited and organising get-togethers to watch the final already. There's certainly a lot of support over there," she said. "I'm going over there to just be a part of the experience to be honest."
She will stay on in the UK until November 19, embarking on a Topdeck bus tour after the World Cup.
Miss Thompson volunteered during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Dunedin where she was studying at Otago University and "loved every minute of it".
She has total faith the All Blacks can return from the final victorious.
"I don't doubt that they have the ability to be there. It's not about who's in the team, it's about the performance on the day," she said. Her passion for rugby stems back to her childhood watching Jonah Lomu perform in early morning World Cup games and has since developed into a much-loved career.
Jeremy Larsen is already planning buffet breakfasts with his mates during the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup games.
The 37-year-old father-of-three is passionate about the game and will be dedicating a good part of September and all of October to supporting them. Friends will be expected to bring contributions to buffet breakfasts which will be held during the early morning World Cup games, before taking a seat in front of the big screen TV.
While his house has "a big screen and plenty of room", his mates are welcome to open their doors "to make it home for a couple of hours" too, and see what they can come up with for the buffet.
Mr Larsen expects crowds of six or seven mates to arrive for each game plus "a couple of kids and maybe a wife or two".
For the final - which he expects his beloved ABs to be playing in - his home will be decorated in back and white and the supporters jerseys, jackets, beanies and fake All Blacks tattoos will be out in force.
"I can decorate the house - flags up, make it a bit festive," he said.
A born and bred Rotorua boy, Mr Larsen played rugby for Western Heights High School before playing for Waikite Rugby & Sports Club until his retirement from the sport he loves three or four years ago.
On Sunday, prior to the naming of the All Blacks World Cup side, Mr Larsen posted his "dream team" on Facebook, which created animated critique from friends and fellow supporters.
He was dubious about the selectors decision to include Waisake Naholo, after making a miraculous recovery from a fractured leg, and disappointed not to see one of his favourite players, Cory Jane, in the line-up.
However, he admitted they had both been likely candidates for the number 14 jersey. "It was kind of 50/50. I think they're both talented guys."
There's no doubt in his mind the All Blacks will make the final but he's not sure who they will meet there.
"I don't think it really matters to be honest," he said. "I think we've been riding a bit of a wave over the past few years and the confidence is quite high in the All Blacks' camp."
2015 Rugby World Cup
September 18-October 31.
Hosted by England.
Final at Twickenham Stadium in London.
All Blacks pool games on Sky Sport (NZT): September 21 at 3.20am, September 25 at 6.30am, October 3 at 7.30am, October 10 at 7.30am.
She repurposes op-shop gowns to highlight her creative skills and sustainable fashion.