Actually, we could do with a bit more in the line of bunting and decoration, say the mayors of our twin cities.
Residents have been asked to nail their colours to the mast and support the Rugby World Cup by entering a national competition to decorate streets with team colours.
Neighbours can work together to string up flags on houses, fences and garages, along with streamers, balloons and coloured lights, say Barbara Arnott and Lawrence Yule.
There are certainly plenty of options when it comes to colours. In addition to the All Blacks and Pacific nation teams we traditionally support, we've got France, Canada and Japan arriving for matches at McLean Park.
Hastings' Rugby World Cup mascot Archibald Hastings-Heart won't know which scarf to wear when. A wardrobe crisis looms for the delightful buffoon of a ball who is entertaining the young and not-so-young around the Bay.
Anyone who still thinks that Hawke's Bay is not geared up for the Rugby World Cup needs to visit the website www.hawkesbaynz.com or havingaball2011.com
There is a lot on and, with an ounce of luck, we'll have the weather to go with it.
And so to Friday night and the opening match between the All Blacks and Tonga - if you haven't already done so, it's time to sort out where you will be watching the game. I have. And with Magpies in both squads, we just can't lose.
