Rugby idol: Make meal of hosting World Cup

Brian Lochore Wairarapa rugby legend Sir Brian Lochore has thrown his weight behind helping to ensure the district makes the best possible contribution it can to next year's Rugby World Cup.
With exactly a year to go until kick-off in the first pool game, Lochore has met Catherine Rossiter-Stead, Wairarapa's World Cup organiser, to swap ideas on how this district can help make the showcase tournament an outstanding success.
Yesterday, Lochore said he was looking forward to meeting the Georgia team who will be hosted by Wairarapa, although he admits he initially hoped the Romanians would be Wairarapa's special guests.
That was because he had met up with many of the Romanian players in the past and had enjoyed their company but, that aside, Lochore said he was sure the Georgians would be just as interesting.
In fact, he has volunteered - with the acquiescence of his wife Pam - to have a couple of players come to the Lochore home for an evening meal.
"I hope that 20 or so other families will do likewise.
"It would be good for the Georgian players to share a meal and see how we live, and, if all else fails, fish and chips are a good feed anyway."
Lochore has been involved with World Cup rugby right from the outset, being coach of the 1987 All Blacks who won the cup for the first and only time, and being involved at one official level or another in tournaments since, including being campaign manager in South Africa in 1995.
'This time, I will be a spectator.
"I will go to the semifinal and the final and probably to some of the lesser games, although I haven't bought tickets for those games yet."
Lochore said cup organisers had done a "fantastic job" allowing players from overseas to be hosted by the smaller unions.
He said rule changes had made the game more exciting and, as a result, the popularity of rugby was on the up-and-up.
"Last year was just a kick fest but there is now a lot of running rugby, a lot of tries being scored and you just have to listen to people's comments to know they feel much happier about the game."
The mere fact the All Blacks were on a winning streak had helped the game's profile and he expected the team had room for improvement.
Number eight Kieran Read was a standout player who could only improve further and Sam Whitelock would be a star of the future.
"I am also impressed the All Black selectors have given a smattering of young players a chance.
"Young Israel Dagg is an example of an incredibly creative young player."