It's essential to dress up, though. Nothing says rugby quite like wearing a scarf-and-beanie combination indoors, set off with a tastefully black (or white, green, yellow, blue or whatever) jersey. In fact anyone who doesn't get into the swing of things should be benched for the next game.
This is, after all, a long tournament, so it's probably a good idea to share the hosting duties around a bit. With the All Blacks hopefully playing seven games in the tournament, it's a big ask to dump all the organising and buying on one person.
Once the venue has been agreed and everyone is kitted out, the next thing to do is to arrange the seating. You could actually build a grandstand, but it's easier to make a temporary one by simply arranging some stools behind the couch for taller guests, the "home team" can then sit on the couch itself and children can sit on cushions on the floor in front. Just make sure the lines of vision are clear.
There is usually a quite long build up to the games, so be prepared to have some pre-match games ready. These don't have to be anything complicated, in fact the simpler the better. A sweep on the score with a small prize for the nearest to the actual result is a common one. If you like a little gamble, then everyone can put into a kitty and draw a player's name. Whoever's player scores the most points by full time is the winner. This doesn't have to be a money transaction either, especially if the kids are involved. Chocolate or lollies works quite well too.
So we've got food, entertainment and the big match to look forward to; all we need now is a drink.
Beer is virtually compulsory. Its connections to rugby go far deeper than mere sponsorship and there is something very pleasing about having a beer while watching the game.
The choice of beer is entirely yours, but there are some rugby-related beers that should be ideal. Steinlager has rolled out its 1987-version cans again, so you can relive the glory year. Heineken, of course, is a major sponsor of the tournament, so it's a valid option. My pick, though, is DB Export Dry, partly because it was born the same year as the Rugby World Cup, but mostly because it's a fantastic lager that goes well with everything. For a darker beer, try Stoke Dark, which is brewed by the McCashin family, and their dear old dad Terry was an All Black himself. If anyone doesn't like beer, let them drink cider - it goes just as well with the chilli our cook has recommended.
As far as wine goes, it's best to just pick out whatever you enjoy drinking, but there are some wines around that tend to go with anything and offer good drinking on their own as well. Since it's a festive occasion, bubbles will go down well and the Contarini Prosecco is a perfect one. All the way from Italy, it's bright and vibrant with elegant pear and apple characters. It goes well with every course and also has the advantage of being very well priced.
But whatever you do, don't forget the non-drinkers. With people having to drive and children being involved a good selection of fruit juice is essential and you can also look into making some mocktails (alcohol-free cocktails) that will make the kids feel a bit sophisticated. And for the adults, there are some new, more adult-oriented soft drinks around, such as Frusion and the Mac's non-alcoholic range. These are less sweet and aimed the more mature palate, so they're a very pleasant alternative.
Most of all, though, enjoy it. This is the biggest sporting event the country has hosted and it's a perfect excuse for us locals to enjoy ourselves as well.
Now if only we could guarantee an All Black win, it would be perfect.
