Louisa Wall: A vote for common sense and justice

Just like our famous horse Kiwi who came from last to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup, New Zealand's Rugby World Cup team came from behind to win a dramatic race on the home straight.

That is if you were to believe all the negative hype before the vote about our chances.

The Aussie odds had New Zealand at $13 to host the cup with Japan a warm $1.40 favourite and South Africa on $3.

I fell into the "RWC-is-going-to-Japan" trap, and developed my own conspiracy theory that we would only win with the support of our Aussie neighbour who I am convinced supported the Japanese. Unlike our South African mates who declared that they would vote for us if they missed the cut, the Aussies remained silent. But in the final analysis it is irrelevant, although it is something that hopefully signals the end of the animosity associated with the hosting of the 2003 RWC.

IRB chairman Syd Millar too seemed to support the Japanese and in a talk in Japan in February he identified the following criteria for a country to win the right to host the RWC: Provide the appropriate commercial opportunities; modern stadiums; an infrastructure that would allow people to enjoy themselves to the full; a union capable of running the tournament; cities that would make the most of the opportunity; and a supportive government.

Millar also said that Japan should allow their coaches to experience other rugby cultures and attend coaching courses overseas and suggested they look to Australia as a "big brother". He also noted that England are doing a lot to promote the game in Canada and the United States. Therein I thought lay the self-interest for Australia. Build the network, secure the support, and control the game. So, Japan this time and the US or Canada in 2015.

This all reminded me of the IOC members' ballot in response to IOC president Jacques Rogge's determination to submit every sport to a vote. Rather than let this happen, they voted against any replacements. How about that for mass mobilisation and a commitment to history?

In addition to the punters voting for the tried and true and valuing history, they voted against the international body chairman.

And by all accounts our team was just perfect and their pitch and delivery was magnificent. We fulfilled all the criteria and more and it seems that there was a very special presentation by All Black captain Tana Umaga about the worth of such an event to all New Zealanders and the Pacific as a region.

And this on the back of the 20-day tour visiting 11 countries and making 13 presentations on why New Zealand should host the World Cup, by chairman Jock Hobbs and NZRU chief executive Chris Moller.

New Zealand is a proud, rugby-playing nation and our passion for the game is unquestioned, and we showed that in hosting the Lions this year, which strategically was brilliant, we could do it.

Remember that John Kirwin try from the kick-off against Italy and Richard Tsimba, the flying Zimbabwean, whose try, a dive at the line against Romania, was replayed throughout the inaugural tournament?

And who could forget that David Kirk run from a ruck in the final against France?

Now we have another chance to host and I am very proud that New Zealand has been given this responsibility by the international rugby community.

Graham Henry and our boys are doing the damage on the field and it is great to see that we can do the damage off the field too.

* Louisa Wall is a former New Zealand rugby and netball representative