Train tragedy touches Twickenham

By Wynne Gray

Even with such a momentous World Cup match as the All Blacks playing England, it has been hard to keep the game in context with the horror of the Paddington train crash so vivid throughout the last week in England.

A minute's silence yesterday at Twickenham, observed by all but a few over-lubricated hoons, was 60 seconds of prayer, respect, memories and also gratitude for many of us in the 70,000 crowd that we had not been ravaged by the tragedy.

As a far-from-home-father of a little girl, one poignant image filled my thoughts during the hushed homage for the bereaved, injured and victims of the crash site just a few kilometres away.

It was a large sign, placed among the floral tributes and messages which are decorating platforms of railway stations along the fateful journeys both trains and their passengers travelled last week.

"Come Home Daddy I Love You, Claire," was the simple and devastating plea.

Being parted from loved ones because of travel, business or both became just a bit more difficult yesterday before the tumult of Twickenham switched back to its sporting mode.

There were the national anthems, New Zealand's sung only in Maori by Hinewehi Mohi, which curtailed many Kiwis' input and later produced a singular comment from All Black coach John Hart that the pre-match rituals were all under RWC command.

Referee Peter Marshall then had to wave combustible England hooker Richard Cockerill back to an acceptable distance from the All Blacks haka as the amphitheatre in west London crackled with anticipation.

To the victors there was progress down the favourable side of the draw and a quarter-final against Scotland, to the losers just concern about their remaining fortunes, the fatigue of an extra match and uncertainty about their place in the global rugby order.

Eighty minutes later and the All Blacks had booked a passage to Murrayfield, while England were left to ponder whether, as they did in 1991, they would wind up in the final after a pool game defeat to the All Blacks.