It's hard to capture in print the noise that day in February. It was guttural. It was visceral. Most of all, it was pure joy.
New Zealand cricket captain, Brendon McCullum, had just bludgeoned four balls in a row into the crowd at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. New
Zealand were 96-0 after six, yes, six overs. England, if not yet out of the World Cup, were certainly down. Out came later.
Standing among predominantly Kiwi guests, I was torn. The England cricket supporter in me was glum: "at least you still have the best darts players" quipped one friend. The diplomat in me could hardly complain about being the owner of the back being slapped good naturedly in commiseration: "quick, ask them for anything you want" quipped another friend. But the sports fan in me was jubilant. This was mesmerising. I am lucky to be able to say "I was there when..."
Sport matters on many levels. As participant, there is fitness, camaraderie, discipline and team-work. As spectator, there can be pleasure or pain, or both.
For some countries, it can help a nation imagine itself as a unified whole: think South Africa 1995. For others, it can reinforce ideology: think Berlin 1936. Sometimes it can act as proxy for tension between countries; Lake Placid and Moscow in 1980. Too often it has provided a platform for violence. But much of the time it can bring countries, nations and people together.
That is very much the case for New Zealand and the nations of the United Kingdom. Sport is a very important touch-point between us. It exemplifies and reinforces the people-to-people links, the friendships that underpin and enrich the bilateral relationship. Every encounter provides a priceless opportunity to deepen further those links. The Lions Tour of New Zealand in 2005 may have been tough on the pitch. Off the pitch, it was a triumph.
And now 2015 is turning out to be a bumper year for UK-NZ sport. Alongside the Cricket World Cup, New Zealand beat England in the World Netball Cup and is leading in the America's Cup. England got some cricket pride - and joy - back in May. The Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last week saw Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England competing with New Zealand again.
And here comes the Rugby World Cup. Not one, not two, but three.
Under 3 days til #RWC2015. Excitement building in UK, NZ & Samoa. Good luck 4 Home Nations, @AllBlacks, @manusamoa pic.twitter.com/nvdStBqFE9
— Jonathan Sinclair (@JWRSinclair) September 16, 2015
Most focus will rightly be on the William Webb Ellis trophy. But over recent weeks, I have had the privilege to farewell the Defence Blacks, representing the finest players from the NZ defence forces, and the NZ Parliamentary Team. Both are off to the UK to compete against their opponents from the UK and other rugby-playing countries.
If rugby, represented by the All Blacks, is one of the strongest ties between the UK and New Zealand, then the two other teams represent some of the others.
Our defence links are deep and enduring. Since the UK election in May, our two Defence Ministers signed Joint statement on Defence co-operation between the UK and NZ. We continue to operate together in Afghanistan, training the Afghan Security Forces. We train together. We plan together. And from 2014-2018 we pay tribute together to those, All Blacks included, who were killed or injured one hundred years ago in defence of shared values.
Our Parliaments epitomise many of those shared values. The 800th anniversary of Magna Carta has given us cause to re-examine how the rights established first at Runnymede in 1215 have given rise to Westminster models of representative democracy; common law traditions; and individual freedoms we take for granted now.
However deserving of our attention these two teams may be, they will struggle to match the attraction of the main event and the All Blacks. Having travelled round New Zealand in the winter of 1990, I was fully aware of the importance of rugby before I arrived for this role. But the status and stature of the All Blacks within the nation particularly struck me last year. And, having previously lived in New Delhi, the only comparison I can give is the reverence for the Indian cricket team within their nation.
I have watched and admired the All Blacks' courage and, most notably, their humility. Much as the England team learned to enjoy their cricket anew from Brendon McCullum and the Black Caps; so rugby teams around the world have sought to emulate the culture of the All Blacks. This promises to be one of the tightest World Cups - and, I hope, one of the least controversial. Unless, of course, a certain Englishman is invited to referee a quarter-final between the All Blacks and France in Cardiff...!
What is certain is that I, like millions of New Zealanders, will be up early over the coming weeks to watch the games. As a fan, I'll be hoping for a little of that February joy and incredulity. Unlike February, I'm hoping one of the four home nations will be on the winning side. If we do, I might even raise a glass - whatever the hour.
Jonathan Sinclair is the British High Commissioner to New Zealand & to the Independent State of Samoa.