Doesn't Rick Ellis look like Jim Bolger?

No, here it is:

Akimbo

John Rowles vs Jason Nevins - Cheryl Moana Marie no less!

RE: Matt Jeffs

Great points there Matt, having been to many games at Twickers over the last 4 years I was always amazed at the amount of people that would flood into the shop there and spend up large, we had a friend who would regularly part with 50 quid a game.

And then the town of Twickenham would be awash with supporters, all mingling and reliving the spectacle they had witnessed. Something that we owe to travelling supporters, and a chance for us to show what New Zealanders are really made of, some true Kiwi hospitality, something I feel we are sorely missing at the moment, and what New Zealand used to be about. And as musch as I have had some great nights there, I'm not sure if the Kingslander can accommodat 60,000, although after the last game I went to it was like they were trying!!

I'm with you Mark, a proper Kiwi World Cup, just like we used to play. We could even bring in that temporary stadium seating I remember someone mentioning that was for Eden Park!!

When it boils down to it you are right Bryan. I have got a little swept up in the debate. It is a time to stand back and look at the bigger picture. There is a phenomenal amount of money at stake here, and it needs to be spent correctly.

Auckland is in an unfortunate position of having 2 - 3 decent sized stadiums that aren't quite up to World Cup Final capacity, so a decision needs to be made.

My main criticism is that Eden Park is dead money. And I have had a golden carrot dangled in front of me that I don't directly have to pay for (as much as we all know we will!!).

At least the injunction was overturned, someone can now put their cojones on the line and make a decision!!

Regardless I look forward to not getting tickets to the final by ballot wherever it is played.

Being from the Bay of Plenty I have no underlying ties to Auckland City, I just reside here as that is where the man pays me, so no real parochialism.

I just feel that the ability for people to be able to train/bus/ferry/drive to a ground is a real advantage.

You make a good point about the central suburbs taking a long time to get to the CBD, then add on a bus ride to Albany over the bridge.

I really like North Harbour stadium, but I don't think it is the solution for the stadium debate due to public transport.

And I would hazard a guess that a fair proportion of Punters would be traveling to the ground from South of the bridge, that is where a lot of hotels are, the airport and the other 2/3rds of the country (not that the 15 min north is much further indeed, but would really compound the problem on game day).

My last trip to Albany was for an All Whites game, already you can imagine what the crowd was like, pitiful. We still had to circle to park, and with only a few thousand people driving out it was still a fair drive, no 10 minute jaunt.

Besides, the point would have to be that the only way to get to Albany is drive, 60,000 all needing to use 1 road, it just isn't doable. We need to be able to offer good public transport, including rail. 1 lane for buses doesn't cut it in my opinion.

I have had the good fortune to travel to many great sporting stadiums in the last few years, Stade de France, Millennium Stadium, Highbury, Maddison Square Garden, all within cooee of solid reliable public transport (I don't want to start an argument here on how solid Britomart is either!!).

Also how is the hotel situation in Albany?

The fact that I am just about to see the fruit of my loins bought into this world I'm thinking of something for them to hear, and undoubtedly has to be Fleetwood Mac and "Don't Stop".