I was invited to attend a Rugby game between the All Blacks and England at Twickenham and managed to get an extra ticket for the tyke. Here are some photographs of that trip.
It was a horrible day, raining like hell and flooding across England. On the weekend, the damn underground tubes also decide to go into maintenance mode and frequently stop working because some feather dropped somewhere or other. Anyway, we started our journey at Harrow and Wealdstone station.
Very crowded platform….
on this side as well. And on the other platforms as well.
As usual, the damn graffiti merchants have been here as well.
Somebody wasn't that excited about going to the match, but he is a teenager, who knows what they think…
very nice roof supports, made out of cast iron.
then we managed to get to Paddington. Nice light and dark alternatively as we go up the rail line
they have obviously tried to clean up the track but only on one side. Its like black and white. See the gravel on the right? Its nice and clean, but on the left, its oily, dark, dusty, dirty…Anyway, then we went to Gloucester Road, then to Earls Court and then too a tube to Richmond and then jumped into a cab to finally get to Twickenham. 30 minutes after kickoff. Damn thing. Missed out on the haka, but consoled myself by thinking that I will get to it at the women’s game
We were at the west stand and that central column is where our lift is.
There’s the south stand on the other side. Horrible weather.
there are the 2 tickets
Heading up in the lift, puffing and panting
The game had begun and we were there when the scores were 6-6. Damn.
The All Blacks were spending more of their time in our half!
I am constantly amazed how these very large solidly muscled men obey the referees, unlike in football.
Getting into a huddle.
Tried out my zoom. So many bright colours, and each colour had a separate meaning, uniforms, that is. The bright yellow were ambulance people, orange were first aid men, the bright green and black were stewards, the yellow green fellas with helmets were policemen, yellow and black were bees and the red jacketed fellow likes red jackets.
After another penalty
couple of substitutes warming up.
Photographers with their great lenses. One day when I grow up, I will get one of those sets :)
This was the cutest thing: A British bulldog stuffed toy at the half way mark.
And that’s the New Zealand try.
A fan getting all excited and waving the flag….
the kicker getting ready
The moment of the strike
the ball is launched
a row of solid English muscle
the box with the reflection of the stadium on the glass wall. It was quite amazing, the sound proofing, you could hardly hear anything once the doors were closed. This was pretty much better than Wembley!
another field goal
Highlighted with a lamp
Jonny Wilkinson, the Hero.
England with their sole try at their try
heading to the corner
so close….
and then it was lost
A throw in
The English and New Zealand flags on top of the stadium
The V’s coming together at the dying moments of the game
The game ended and handshakes all around.
The English girls practising before their game, as you can see, the audience is a bit sparse
And the NZ girls on their side
rows of empty seats
the stewards were sweeping up the seats.
It was fairly chucking it down.
Then the NZ girls came on to the pitch
And then the English girls came on, there were some strange fire balls blowing up in the background..it would have been better if the rain wasn't chucking down, but as it so happens, it was looking very sad indeed.
The two teams lined up for the national anthems.
the rows of empty seats
The Haka dance of the women.
And then they move in so close to the English girls. I wouldn't want to be in front of them, i tell you. Bloody frightening.
And the game started. We left after that point. It was getting late and Kannu was getting tired. We also had a very long journey (turned out to be 2.5 hours back) back home.
Shining jackets of the policemen outside the stadium
Here are the famous doors and entrance to the stadium. We started back. The game wasn't as good, not very impressed I am afraid, but still, it was a good time to be had despite the atrocious weather and the horrible commute.
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