Game of two halves (24 hours later)

JENNY LING - The Dominion Post | Monday, 8 October 2007

It's tough being an All Black fan when the rest of your family is French.

Kiwi dad Miles Dunkin was outnumbered by his French wife, Soazik, and their 16-month-old son, Thibault, who were both wearing French jerseys at Wellington's Alliance Francaise headquarters yesterday.

Mr Dunkin, not feeling "particularly flash", said he had accepted his son not supporting the All Blacks. "Soazik decided to stay in New Zealand because of our relationship so it's the least I can do to let the boy support France."

But as the full-time whistle blew dad was gutted, mum was ecstatic and Thibault just bemused.

At the home of the French language and culture organisation, about 60 people watched the match on two big screens. Moments before the end, many burst into the French national anthem.

Liza Rolleston-Kerr, from Wadestown, wore an All Blacks jersey but admitted being torn. "Today I'm All Blacks, but I love France and I love the French."

Arlette Bilounga has lived in Wellington for a year and was cheering for black. "I'm so disappointed. I can't possibly believe that France could have beaten the All Blacks in the quarterfinal."

French Ambassador Michel Legras, who saw the game in Paris, said emotionally he was on the French side but logically on the All Blacks'. "For once emotion was stronger than logic."

5:00AM Monday October 08, 2007

By Alanah May Eriksen and Maggie McNaughton

Rugby Worls Cup 2007 semifinal and final tickets immediately went up for sale on Trade Me.

Rugby World Cup

* New All Blacks coach by Christmas

* Rugby: NZRU left counting $50m cost of failure

Thousands of Kiwi fans who spent big money for tickets to the Rugby
World Cup semifinal and final in anticipation of seeing the All Blacks
play have been left bitterly disappointed.

Most people who had bought tickets had already left New Zealand,
Sporting Tours manager Steve Kirwan said yesterday. But others face a
miserable, gruelling flight to the other side of the world knowing
full-well they won't see the All Blacks play.

However, yesterday's defeat hasn't put Aucklander John McBride off heading to France.

Although disappointed by the result, he said he would continue his
plans to go with a friend to watch the semifinal at the weekend. "We
will still go and enjoy it."

But not everybody's feeling so philosophical. Bob and Margaret
Graydon have vowed they will never travel to another Rugby World Cup
again after their "experience from hell".

The Waiheke Island couple have battled disrupted travel plans and
stolen possessions - and now find their journey will end without them
seeing the All Blacks play.