Continuing on with the clean stadiums rule, Westpac Stadium in Wellington gets all dressed up as Wellington Regional Stadium as it hosts matches of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Wellington Regional Stadium. Doesn’t that just roll off your tongue, sounding inclusive and benign? Oh Lord, kumbaya. It actually lulls you into a false sense of security. The reality is just so different.
Wellington is an awful place to play rugby. Somewhere between Invercargill and….Invercargill. Cold, driving rain guarantees hypothermia, at the very least. The only good news is that it’s better than it used to be. Yeah, really?
This is ‘The Cake Tin’, usually Westpac Trust Stadium. Home to the Hurricanes (they got that right), Wellington Lions NPC and Phoenix soccer saps. It’s situated amongst graffiti-ridden train carriages and Norwegian shipping containers – sort of banished to the industrial end of the CBD in the concrete jungle.
Opened in 2000, you’ll remember that year’s Wallaby Bledisloe Cup win after ‘Nobody’ kicked his famous penalty goal here, to win at the death. I think that’s been the only ever Australian highlight as we’ve lost the other two tests held here?
It took over from Athletic Park as a test venue. Athletic Park is now a large retirement complex – best place for it. But my word, there were some corker tests played here. Unfortunately it was completely exposed to the elements as the wind and rain drove up from Cook Strait.
The Wallabies didn’t have a great record at Athletic Park. Our last appearance there in 1996 resulted in a 43-6 thrashing by the All Blacks. In total, we’ve won 5, lost 11 and drew one there. Our best win was in 1964 where we defeated them 20-5 with a side including Dick Marks, Phil Hawthorne, Ken Catchpole, Peter Johnson, John Thornett, Peter Crittle, Jules Guerassimoff and the late Greg Davis.
The All Blacks played 42 tests here starting in 1903. There have been some epic battles against the British Lions (as they were called then) in particular over five decades with a 5-2 winning record for New Zealand. The last test here in 1993 was won by the Lions 20-7 but none of the others recorded a winning margin in excess of 10 points.
Wellington Regional Stadium is set to host 5 Pool games, including 1 Wallaby test, and 2 Quarter finals, one of which will include the Wallabies.
Location: Located a short walk from the central Wellington Railway Station
Capacity: 40,000 (with temporary seating)
Address: Wellington Regional Stadium, Waterloo Quay, Wellington 6140
Matches:
South Africa v Wales, Sunday September 11
South Africa v Fiji, Saturday September 17
Australia v USA, Friday September 23
Argentina v Scotland, Sunday September 25
France v Tonga, Saturday October 1
New Zealand v Canada, Sunday October 2
Quarter-final 1 (Winner Pool C v Runner Up Pool D), Saturday October 8
Quarter-final 3 (Winner Pool D v Runner Up Pool C), Sunday October 9
