Ask Phoebe: World Cup organisers silent on soloists

Who will sing the national anthem. File Photo / APN

Who will sing the national anthems at the start of the RWC games, or will they all be taped and/or played by a brass band or something? And will we sing Now is the Hour at the end of the tournament - irrespective of whether the "end" involves the All Blacks - as a way of farewelling visitors, as we used to at the end of rugby tours and did, memorably with a bugler, at the end of the 1987 World Cup?

Bill Davidson, Balmoral.

Mike Jaspers, communications manager for Rugby New Zealand 2011, said that soloists backed by choirs would sing at the final and semifinals. Choirs will sing for all other matches. But he would not say who the soloists or choirs are. Mr Jaspers said the end of the tournament would be acknowledged in an appropriate way, but organisers wanted to keep that a surprise.

I have tickets for the All Blacks-Japan game at Waikato Stadium on September 16. Could you please advise me as to how I can travel from the CBD in Auckland to this game, leaving in the afternoon and returning to the CBD in Auckland straight after the match is finished, using transport providers/operators, train or bus?

Karen Manning, Auckland.

You can catch a bus to Hamilton, either InterCity or Naked Bus, from the CBD at about 5pm, but getting back the same night by bus is a problem.

TranzScenic is running trains from Auckland to Hamilton for RWC matches. The problem is the trains do not go from the CBD - they leave from Ellerslie, Newmarket, The Strand, Glen Innes, Middlemore, Manurewa, Papakura and Pukekohe, as well as Huntly, and return after the game to drop off passengers at these stations. The cost is $90 return per adult from Auckland stations, reducing in cost the closer to Hamilton you board the train. The train leaves Ellerslie at 4.15pm on match day, and arrives in Hamilton at 7.10pm. After the game, the train leaves Hamilton at 10.40pm and gets into Auckland at 1.15am. The price includes coach transfers to and from the stadium. It would pay to book though - visit tranzscenic.co.nz.

I am just short of needing a wheelchair for my five visits to Eden Park. Whereas wheelchair people obtain good organised attention, can you tell me please how I can get to the gate of Eden Park? I can slowly get to my seat from the gate but could not tackle a road walk of any distance at all. I have a mobility card and will be with a carer.

Brian Robbins, Auckland.
I am assuming you will be travelling by car to close to the stadium. There will be mobility parking on the corner of Dominion Rd and Bellwood Ave, with a shuttle to take you to the gates of the stadium.