Zespri employees pick green and gold for final triumph

DITCHING THE BLACK: Zespri employees Rob Golsby (left) and David Armour are bravely supporting the Wallabies amid a sea of colleagues backing black. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER

Two brave souls proudly wore green and gold at the Zespri headquarters in Mount Maunganui, for the last day of work before tomorrow's World Cup final.

Rob Golsby, who left New South Wales for Tauranga eight years ago, and David Armour, who moved to the Bay from Brisbane four months ago, are not ready to waver on their Australian support - although Mr Golsby did consider it.

At the beginning of the World Cup tournament he admitted considering backing black but as the competition wore on his loyalty remained firmly across the ditch.

He was proud of the fact he had finally convinced his 6-year-old Kiwi-born daughter to support green and gold for the big game.

Considering Mr Armour's wife, Nicci, is a Kiwi and devoted rugby fan, he predicted a tense atmosphere in their living room tomorrow morning.

"It's going to be good fun. We have a big couch and we're going to have to sit at opposite ends," he said.

He predicted an Aussie victory - just. "The Kiwis are never going to give up easily."

He vowed to celebrate an Aussie victory by "wearing something yellow to the park with the kids".

Mr Golsby, who was wearing the same scarf he wore to the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney, predicted a three-point Wallabies win.

The internal email jibes started at the Zespri office on Thursday night, he said. "I pointed out though that as an organisation we're green and gold," Mr Armour said - referring to the main varieties of kiwifruit exported by Zespri. Despite being the odd ones out, Mr Armour said he enjoyed being in New Zealand for the World Cup.

"I think it's quite good because everybody really gets behind rugby. It's just about a religion here." Michele Hunter