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The Moodie Report Publisher was in Milan for the weekend to watch my beloved All Blacks rugby team play Italy at the magnificent San Siro Stadium.
The San Siro is usually associated with football – it is the home of both AC Milan and Inter – but such is the interest in the All Blacks in Italy that the stadium was packed with 82,000 spectators.
Autogrill were our gracioius hosts for the occasion – CEO Gianmario Tondato da Ruos (below) is a passionate rugby supporter – and a fabulous day and evening eventuated.
The All Blacks’ fame may have preceded them but the Azzurri showed scant respect for reputation, taking the game to the New Zealanders who were extremely flattered by the 20-6 victory.
Also on hand was WDF CEO Mark Riches (pictured with wife Britt below), sporting his stylish new hirsute look adopted as part of the ‘MOvember’ fund-raising campaign for prostate cancer research.
It was one of those sporting occasions when the result hardly mattered. The thrill of simply being in such a world-famous stadium and of seeing the famous All Blacks’ haka (below) performed in front of an enthralled (and respectful) crowd was worth the price of admission alone.
[The All Blacks lay down their traditional haka challenge to the Azzurri]
[The two teams line up for the anthems just before kick-off]
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