Editorial: Haere mai! Everything is ka pai...

Photo / Richard Robinson

Opinion

Six years ago, when New Zealand was awarded the 2011 Rugby World Cup, this newspaper suggested "the passion that secured the hosting rights must now be brought to preparation for, and staging of, the event".

Nothing less than the best World Cup ever would suffice for a country with such a rugby heritage, we added. Tonight, when the tournament kicks off, we will get our first inkling of how close we will come to meeting that lofty ambition. The omens are good.

As much is apparent from the relaxed demeanour of some of those most closely involved in the organisation of the event, not least Martin Snedden, the chief executive of Rugby New Zealand 2011. With everything ready to go, his message for New Zealanders and overseas visitors alike is to enjoy the occasion.

Officials from the International Rugby Board seem equally content. It should not be forgotten that the game's governors went out on a limb in selecting New Zealand ahead of Japan and South Africa. Any lingering reservations about that decision seem now to have been set aside.

Yet the IRB would surely have had considerably more cause for jitters if it had known in 2005 what was to befall this country. First, there were the ravages of the global economic recession, from which none of the candidates could be immune.

New Zealand, however, has also had the massive burden of the Christchurch earthquakes uncomfortably close to the start of the tournament. Japan has, of course, been similarly stricken. But it is this country that has lost one of its principal stadiums and has seen its second-largest city eliminated from any part in the event.

That obstacle has been overcome in the most practical way possible. Other deadlines have been met with something to spare. Before Christchurch's devastation, probably the organising committee's main concern was that the new state-of-the-art Dunedin stadium would be completed on time.

Any fears proved unwarranted, and the facility has already proved an outstanding success. Many other stadiums, including Eden Park, have been extensively redeveloped, a far cry from the first World Cup in 1987, when a lick of paint was all that most received.

This will be an enduring benefit, but not the abiding memory of the event. That will surely be the embracing of the World Cup teams and their supporters up and down the country.

Many players visiting here for the first time have clearly been enthused by their contact with the communities and culture of provincial New Zealand. These communities have, for their part, leaped at the chance to be associated with international rugby.

Their hospitality reflects the predominance of rugby in this country, a component that few hosts of the event can boast. So, too, does the near sell-out of tickets for matches over the opening weekend. This will not be a World Cup with an embarrassing surfeit of spare seats.

In the six weeks until a champion is crowned at Eden Park, there is bound to be more than a little controversy. That is a fact of life when the stakes are so high. On the field, reputations will be made and mangled. Contentious refereeing decisions are only the blast of a whistle away. Coaches will battle to retain clear heads as all sorts of hindrances are tossed in their path.

Off the field, there will also be hiccups. Yet dress rehearsals for the event suggest these should be both minimal and manageable. When placed in the context of such a global event, they should also cause barely a ripple.

Everything is set for a World Cup that will be remembered as a great festival of the game in a country where rugby holds a special place. The long wait is finally over. May the best team win.