Rugby World Cup: Bars crammed as England, Scotland meet for match 129

Mark Edmondson and Jono Single. Photo / Doug Sherring

One of sport's fiercest rivalries was renewed last night when England took on Scotland in the Rugby World Cup in Auckland.

Shops had sold out of kilts, the bars were packed out by supporters from both countries and Auckland was bursting at the seams. Many fans opted to get down to Kingsland early where the bars struggled to cope.

The teams have met 128 times. England has won 68 of those matches and Scotland has been victorious just 42 times. The teams have also drawn 18 times.

Hundreds of Scottish fans gathered at SkyCity Hotel - including 10 pipers who had been banned from performing in the stadium - to see the Scottish team off from their hotel. Inside the Cloud, former Waikato rugby star Murray Meinung was cheering for Scotland, with son Brian and five friends from Hamilton.

"I think it's unbelievable what New Zealand has done as far as the tournament is concerned. It's been very successful."

It was his fourth trip to the Cloud. Brian said Kiwis should embrace the World Cup because it may never return.

"This is the holy grail. It'll never be like this again. In what World Cup do you get 60,000 people to watch Fiji play Samoa?" The Meinungs' support of Scotland was driven by a proud New Zealand tradition of supporting the underdogs.

Scottish-born Melburnian Delia Forrest was heading to the Cloud to watch the rugby with friends, including Welshman Dai Jones.

Forrest went to Party Central on Friday for a preview of the facilities. "It was nice," she said. "Melbourne should learn from it."

She hoped her favourite player Dan Parkes would perform for the Scots.

"We're going to win. We have to win."