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The Rugby World Cup is ours and doesn't it feel like a relief as much as a celebration.
After 20 years of not having it, it feels like its back where it rightfully should be. I had the very exciting role of being the last truck's MC in the Auckland parade, the day after the Final and it was great. The crowd was unbelievable, the atmosphere was electric and the company of Muliaina, McCaw, Thorn and coaches Henry and Smith was even better.
The love that those guys got blew their minds. They couldn't believe the support that turned out and they genuinely felt the love. I guess after spending two months 'in camp', they didn't really get a perspective of what we already knew - that the stadium of 4 million was exactly that, and it wasn't a marketing line.
We posed the question on Friday's show as to whether the public should be able to touch the cup, even drink from it. The cup on the truck with the team - I really felt it was the team's trophy, earned through a lot of sacrifice. And it was barely 12 hours after they had won it. Richie had said in the days leading up to the final that even he hadn't touched it before, so I felt why should I!
Having seen a lot people get their hands on it I don't feel regret it at all, and good on the team for letting us have a go. I bet it has annoyed the trophy snobs from the Northern Hemisphere a little which is even better!
Four more years to enjoy it too!