Suresh Kumar says the World Cup has not been a bonanza. Photo / Natalie Slade
This World Cup, the Herald will speak to cabbies about the word on the street. Today, meet Suresh Kumar from Auckland Co-op Taxis.
How's your Rugby World Cup been?
There are too many taxis. It was supposed to be a bonanza but it's just so quiet. Like other businesses, we were better off before the rugby started. We're just wasting our fuel running around in circles.
Caught many of the games?
When I've been at home.
I enjoyed watching Fiji. We're good at Sevens.
Been disappointed at the 15-a-side effort?
Yes. That's where I'm from. I've been here 20 years plus. It's been a long time.
Any chance of any Indo-Fijians becoming All Blacks?
Oh, it depends on the selectors. [He chuckles.] In rugby, you've got to be masculine, tall and have a good build, you know.
So you can bulldoze other people. Skinny ones just get thrown all over the place.
There should be a few more Fijians in the team though, that would be good.
Who is your favourite player?
Piri Weepu's pretty good. I think we [NZ] will definitely win the World Cup. But this weekend's game [against Australia] will be tight. It'll be under 20, like South Africa [v Australia]. It'll be 17-19, something like that.
The final's on a Sunday. If the All Blacks win, do you think Aucklanders will go out and party?
It'll be a big party. I prefer working before the game when the crowd's in a good mood. The mood changes if a crowd loses, like England last week.
Choppers have helped firefighters battle two scrub fires near Wairoa. One is suspicious.