So back to the point, the Manu Samoa vs Fiji game. I went to it. With 3 friends. One word to describe the day: AMAZEBALLS!! It was my very very first live rugby game and it didn't disappoint. Manu Samoa actually winning the game might have had something do with it, but no, the WHOLE day was amazing!
So we started the day at around 9am. We woke up hungover after a night out at Apia-Way (don't ask. that night out is another blog post altogether). So yes, we woke up, drove back to the city to our apartment (we spent the night at a friend's place near Apia-Way) so we can get ready for the game. We colour-blocked ourselves in the Manu Samoa colours, red, and blue. White is one of the colours but it got lost somewhere in our outfit planning. We planned on walking the fan-trail to Eden Park but it started raining heavily so we decided to catch the train there instead.
There were 4 of us. 2 of us had Category A tickets, the other 2 had Category C tickets. We wanted to sit together so we decided we'll ask 2 people sitting next to our Category C seats if they wanted to upgrade to Category A (Gravity defying seats that cost $130 a pop). We figured it'd be easier to ask people if they wanted to upgrade rather than ask them to downgrade. We're smart like that.
We got there JUST when the gates were opening so we were among the first people there. We did manage to get our Category C neighbours to upgrade to Category A, so YAY we got to sit together! Fast forward to the end of the game, Manu Samoa WON!!
We stayed behind to hang out and catch a glimpse of the players/take photos of them, then we decided to go to their Hotel and actually meet them which we did. We got photos with almost all of them, and got to talk to them for 20 seconds each. If i had to pick a Fave it'd have to be Tusi Pisi. He was so nice and he actually made conversation with us. The others just smiled for the pictures, autographed the signs we made (i'll show you a photo) said "No Problem" when we said Thank you and hurried along. I mean, i'm not complaining, I'd be a little standoff-ish as well if randoms kept asking to take photos and scribble my name on random surfaces. It was just nice of Tusi Pisi to make conversation. It was nice. We asked what his plans for the night were and he said he was going to dinner with his wife (wait. WHAT?? you're MARRIED??!) and her parents. We apologised for holding him up and he told us it was ok, and said "Thanks so much for your support and thanks for coming by, really appreciate it."
sigh....
so these are the signs we made for the game? cool huh? they were a hit! So many people wanted to take photos of them and some read them, laughed and pointed.
And THIS was when we met Tusi Pisi.
so yes. that was the day. one fine day it was. now i really want to watch the Movie of the same name starring George Clooney & Michele Pfeiffer.
GO THE MANU!!
