7 Sept - 20 Oct, 2007
New Zealand v France Kick-off: 2000 BST LATEST ACTION (all times BST) To get involved, text us on 81111 (UK users only) or contribute to 606
1915: "The turnstiles have been open for an hour and there's probably a couple of thousand in the ground so far. It sounds like the horn sellers have done a roaring trade today although I reckon some might wear out before the game starts (horns, that is, not the sellers). "The roof is closed but I have to say I prefer it open. For one, rugby is an outdoor sport, and two, it makes it all seem ever so slightly artificial. I'm sure I won't notice once the game starts. "Earlier today I went for a little stroll pitchside. There's no doubt it's an awe-inspiring venue. But for the purposes of this match, it's just in the wrong country. "Up close, the pitch looks so small and the stands loom so close and large above it, it's a wonder the players don't lose their marbles - and the waste products from their pre-match meal - under the pressure. I suppose that's why they're pro sportsmen and the rest of us aren't."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at the Millennium Stadium 1910: Shall we get the "why on earth is it being played in Cardiff?" chat out the way, then we can hopefully all settle down for a top-draw match and ignore the rugby politics. My opinion, for what it's worth, is not vastly different from the general concensus which is that France have got no-one to blame but themselves. If you trade votes for matches like they did to guarantee the support of the Celtic nations, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Even so, you'd have thought that somebody somewhere among the organisers did not think it might be a good idea to make sure that whoever finished second in France's "group of death" pool would also play their quarter-final in the host country. Obviously not. 1900: "The Rolling Stones might as well have written 'Paint it Black' for Cardiff today, there are that many Kiwis tumbling out of the woodwork. "I saw my first New Zealand fan at eight in the morning at Clapham Junction and it's been a black haze ever since, like an army of orcs multiplying by the minute. "Eight hours before the game and Cardiff already resembled a multi-national rugby shirt-wearing jamboree. "Dotted among the Kiwis were pockets of Frenchmen, isolated and outnumbered, bands of Irishmen, who came anyway despite their side not being here as planned, plenty of English and kilted Scots, some Australians, South Africans, Italians... but funnily enough, hardly any Welsh shirts. "England's victory over Australia, fuelled by drinking that began well before lunch, has certainly ratcheted up the excitement levels. "The Kiwis are crowing that they are already in the final (the winners of tonight's match meet England next) and the French, more visible now, have seen the 'impossible' happen and are starting to dream. "Around every corner there are sporadic bursts of the Marseillaise, watched with affection and respect by the Kiwis and answered now and again by guttural roars that resemble the start of a Haka. No-one seems to want to be the first to let rip properly, though. "The streets around the Millennium Stadium are buzzing and rammed with people and there's plenty that won't remember the game. If it's anything like the one this afternoon, they'll have missed a cracker."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at the Millennium Stadium 1850: Evening all, I hope we've all had a nice cup of tea and maybe even a couple of custard creams to calm down after the England-Australia game earlier this afternoon. Not a bad day though, if you're a rugby union fan, as we are just over an hour away from another potentially classic encounter as tournament favourites New Zealand take on hosts France in Cardiff. Cardiff isn't technically in France, but that's what you get when you muck about with fixtures in exchange for votes.
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at the Millennium Stadium 1910: Shall we get the "why on earth is it being played in Cardiff?" chat out the way, then we can hopefully all settle down for a top-draw match and ignore the rugby politics. My opinion, for what it's worth, is not vastly different from the general concensus which is that France have got no-one to blame but themselves. If you trade votes for matches like they did to guarantee the support of the Celtic nations, you have to take the rough with the smooth. Even so, you'd have thought that somebody somewhere among the organisers did not think it might be a good idea to make sure that whoever finished second in France's "group of death" pool would also play their quarter-final in the host country. Obviously not. 1900: "The Rolling Stones might as well have written 'Paint it Black' for Cardiff today, there are that many Kiwis tumbling out of the woodwork. "I saw my first New Zealand fan at eight in the morning at Clapham Junction and it's been a black haze ever since, like an army of orcs multiplying by the minute. "Eight hours before the game and Cardiff already resembled a multi-national rugby shirt-wearing jamboree. "Dotted among the Kiwis were pockets of Frenchmen, isolated and outnumbered, bands of Irishmen, who came anyway despite their side not being here as planned, plenty of English and kilted Scots, some Australians, South Africans, Italians... but funnily enough, hardly any Welsh shirts. "England's victory over Australia, fuelled by drinking that began well before lunch, has certainly ratcheted up the excitement levels. "The Kiwis are crowing that they are already in the final (the winners of tonight's match meet England next) and the French, more visible now, have seen the 'impossible' happen and are starting to dream. "Around every corner there are sporadic bursts of the Marseillaise, watched with affection and respect by the Kiwis and answered now and again by guttural roars that resemble the start of a Haka. No-one seems to want to be the first to let rip properly, though. "The streets around the Millennium Stadium are buzzing and rammed with people and there's plenty that won't remember the game. If it's anything like the one this afternoon, they'll have missed a cracker."
BBC Sport's Rob Hodgetts at the Millennium Stadium 1850: Evening all, I hope we've all had a nice cup of tea and maybe even a couple of custard creams to calm down after the England-Australia game earlier this afternoon. Not a bad day though, if you're a rugby union fan, as we are just over an hour away from another potentially classic encounter as tournament favourites New Zealand take on hosts France in Cardiff. Cardiff isn't technically in France, but that's what you get when you muck about with fixtures in exchange for votes.
Source: BBC Sport
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