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Rugby World Cup championship sets New Zealand nerves on edge

Xinhua, October 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

From the sweltering sands of Iraq to the icy sweep of Antarctica, New Zealanders are steeling themselves for the final of the Rugby World Cup against traditional rivals Australia.

The game - being played in London on Saturday - will be broadcast live in New Zealand from 5 a.m. Sunday, giving the rugby-centric nation a full day of celebrations if it becomes the first nation to win the world cup in back-to-back championships.

Or a full day of mourning, before the start of the inevitable recriminations against whichever players, referee or coach is deemed responsible for the ignominious defeat.

Headlines have become increasingly bizarre since long-time trans-Tasman rivals, the Wallabies, made the final against the All Blacks earlier this week.

Sports writers have even combed the archives to see whether the Halloween date is auspicious - and found it favored Australia in previous face-offs.

As New Zealanders around the world gird themselves, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) pointed out that few will be as anxious as the military personnel in Iraq, where they training Iraqi forces as part of a joint New Zealand-Australia contribution to the fight against Islamic State insurgents.

"I didn't expect to be watching an Australian and New Zealand final on deployment in Iraq surrounded by Kiwis," Australian Defense Force Captain Matthew Daniell said in a statement from the NZDF.

"The result will more than likely mean some really awkward moments afterwards because national pride is on the line, but it will all be in good spirits," he said.

More than 17,000 kilometers from London, scientists and support staff at New Zealand's Antarctic station will be rising in the 24-hour sun in the hope of watching the big match.

"Our team at Scott Base have been listening to Rugby World Cup matches live via radio in the build up to the final, but it's still unknown if they will get to see the big game live as Internet and satellite capabilities are pretty limited in Antarctica," Antarctica New Zealand general manager communications Jeanine Begg said in a statement.

"We have a committed team of tech experts thinking of cunning ways to make this possible, but the chances are slim, radio may be the only option again."

However, if the Wallabies do manage to upset the bookies' expectations of an All Blacks' win, a communications failure might save a few chewed fingernails on the frozen continent. Enditem