Andrew Mulligan: Parades and a brat - what great fun

The crowds were out at Apia Park, and even if the game was a bit of a fizzer, the spectacle around it made it a super-special occasion. Photo / Dean Purcell

Opinion

I love fireworks and parades. Unfortunately the one scheduled for Wellington this week never happened and the fireworks at Westpac Stadium were for the Highlanders.

They paraded the All Blacks through Apia on Tuesday like messiahs returning to thank the Samoan people for their contribution to rugby.

It was intriguing to see the All Blacks embracing a full PR move for once, rather than having to manage the various demands of a thousand stakeholders during test week, let alone a day and a half of preparation after touching down in a host city.

We won't see something like that for the team again for a long time - an airport welcoming committee of Apia locals, a parade through the streets in buses and utes, a civic reception with only the captain and New Zealand Rugby chairman on stage while the Prime Minister welcomed them and, most of all, the team kitted out in a local designed shirt.

The game turned out to be a bit of a fizzer, spectacle-wise, but it certainly lit the fuse of those wanting to claim that the double happies kept under the coach's bed for the old guys in the team had run out of bang.

If you're Rory McIlroy's mate, how bad do you feel about nagging him to come outside and play? A torn ligament has robbed golf of its desperately needed rivalry of nice guys at St Andrews.

Not that Jordan Spieth is too worried. He's training for the Open Championship by playing his simulator at home. That's how much he has it in the bag now Rory is out.

Nick Kyrgios won't be the purists' cup of tea, but for me it's great to have a 20-year-old Australian "super-brat" because tennis needs one. It's been far too bland for far too long - perfect Roger and scratch and sniff Rafa rarely step out of line, and the next tier of stars aren't nearly as explosive as Kyrgios.

But Roger Federer calmed everyone down and put it all into perspective by setting the line for obvious tanking at one set, rather than the solitary game Kyrgios is accused of throwing in the fourth round tie versus Richard Gasquet.

The New South Wales Blues could easily be accused of tanking after the way they capitulated in league's Origin III at Suncorp Stadium.

I think Johnathan Thurston is the best player in either code at the moment.

Finally, do remember when you're worth millions of dollars and your hands are your livelihood, as is the case for NFL star Jason Pierre Paul, please don't handle lighted fireworks. During the weekend, he almost blew off the hand he uses to blow by offensive linemen for the New York Giants to get to their quarterback. He's had his right index finger amputated, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback CJ Wilson lost two fingers in a similar accident.

There will be no parades by fans for those two this season.