Blog: Wellington Sevens (+video)

All the colour of the Sevens, minute-by-minute

BY MICHAEL FOX

Stuff.co.nz's Michael Fox is at Westpac Stadium covering all the costumes, the colour and the action of the NZI Wellington Sevens.

9.33pm: That's it from me for today people. Thanks for reading and log on tomorrow for more coverage of the Wellington sevens from around midday.

9.31pm: Fiji 14 Samoa zip.
 
Kenya and South Africa are up next followed by New Zealand and Australia. The boys got their title hopes back on track with the win over Niue so lets hope it was a prelude of things to come.

9.20pm: Night has settled and Pacific Island sevens powerhouses Samoa and Fiji are playing.

This game promises to be a good one.

Again, the crowd looks a little more subdued sans music.

9.10pm: It's fair to say the crowd now seem well and truly more interested in the music than the rugby. Argentina and England are still playing but as the music came on at half time the crowd came alive.

It's a pretty impressive sight with the stadium's lights on and the crowd getting amongst it.

England zip - Argentina 10.

9.03pm: The Sevens are certainly a sight for sober eyes. The queues at the bar have dwindled and Duff Man is everywhere.

I've never seen a drunk man try and play the drums before, but I have to say it's pretty entertaining.

One guy dressed as a pimp has disco balls dangling from his glasses. Points for getting the finer details down pat.

Michael Phelps is another crowd favourite. It's hard to say shether it's due more to his freakish ability in the pool, or his recent - more infamous - exploits.

8.45pm: The crowd is going wild while some midfield dancers and fireworks go off. Why, why, why does Delilah have the crowd singing at the top of their lungs?

And there it is: Living on a Prayer. It had to happen, I suppose. Along with Austin Powers on a stadium float in the middle of the ground.

England and the Argies are up next.

8.30pm: The live music out front continues to impress as the crowd dancing along has doubled since my last visit. A DJ is now playing and the crowd are getting right into it.

It's been a hard day for almost everyone here.

8.03pm: Sevens tournament bosses have just released a statement saying that it is likely that teams will finish on equal points at the end of the day.
 
If this happens the placings will be decided on points differential. I’m not sure what this will mean for the Kiwi lads.

7.53pm: A quick sojourn through the member's lounge revealed a much more sedate affair though there were dctors, belly dancers and young guys in pyjamas.

7.46pm: First the Super Bowl and now the Wellington Sevens. 'The Boss' reigns supreme as Dancing in the Dark rings out.
 
The stadium looks pretty impressive with people up and dancing.
 
Scotland 5 - Tonga 10

7.40pm: It's been a big day so far and there’s still more than two hours worth of play to go!
 
Dusk is rapidly approaching in Wellington as the USA has just trounced the Cooks.
 
All Black coach Steve Hansen is at the stadium and it's hard to imagine he’s here for the rugby. However he looked his usual stoic self.
 
Points for a unique costume would have to go to the "Flower Pot Men" making their way around in camouflage and with upside-down flower pots on their heads - something I think is unique to them here.
 
The number of costumes and the effort people appear to have put in is huge.
 
One gladiator is down on the concourse showing off his guns. It's a pretty strange sight but I have to give it to him - he was a big lad.
 
The rest of the crowd downstairs are busy dodging jandals and high heel shoes which are being beamed around.
 
The Tongans and Scots are up next.

7.01pm: The outside area is proving a haven for those who need a breather. Dozens of people are calming down outside in the breeze.

One guy is wearing a TV3 talent scout t-shirt, though something tells me he isn't who he says he is. Still, God loves a trier.

Oh, and Barack Obama is here.

Some of the toilets are a shambles.

6.51pm: The NZI dancers are proving a hit. One of them is doing one-armed hand stands and - even more impressively - bouncing up and down on that arm. The back spin went down a treat too.

6.47pm: The makeshift food court and its tables have attracted a pretty sizable horde of hungry fans. There's plenty of hugging going on now too. Most costumes appear to be coping.

TV3 reported that four people had been arrested and 20 evicted. As usual the boys in blue are popular with most of the crowd who, according to one officer, have been pretty well behaved on the whole. It's just a shame some people drink too much, he said.

6.36pm: New Zealand have just had a comprehensive win over minnows Niue. Lofty Waikato wing Tim Mikkelson scored a stunner to complete the rout.
 
The stadium is starting to lose the sun as it moves overhead, with just small section of the crowd still basking in it.
 
As night falls here no doubt the festivities will go up a gear.
 
Wales, who beat New Zealand earlier, are now going head-to-head with the Aussies.

Meanwhile, some sections of the crowd are up and dancing to the music coming over the loud speaker. The bagpipes that came over next weren't so popular though.

6.26pm: The Sevens are definitely living up to their reputation as the party of the year.

New Zealand are taking on Niue in front of a packed out stadium. The crowd has filtered out from the concourse to watch the home team get their tournament back on track.

The home town boys have streaked to an early lead and the crowd are pretty happy about it.
 
A number of people under the stadium are looking a little worse for wear but the majority of people appear to be having a great time.

6.00pm: The security guards say they've stopped "quite a few" folks from getting in. Mostly those who were too boozed. If I was a betting man I'd say a few had successfully slipped through though.

The concourse and outside area at the stadium are strewn with bottles and other litter. There are a few serious-looking conversations happening outside too. One guy has just been escorted out of the grounds by two burly policemen.

A good-sized crowd is also rocking out to a covers band. Tom Petty's 'Free falling' is a hit with the dancers.

5.34pm: One of the cameramen shooting the South Africa-Tonga game just got knocked over and didn't look too happy. That's some expensive gear I'd say, so hard to blame him.

5.30pm: The election of a new US president doesn't appear to have helped the popularity of the Americans among the Wellington crowd. USA just succumbed to tradiional crowd favourites Samoa, to loud cheers. It looked like a pretty brave performance from the Yanks however. Good to see the minnow teams going well.

The commentator in the box next to me is kit out in a Hawaiian shirt and lei and is speaking in a language I can't understand. He's undoubtedly excited though.

Kenya are warming up. I'm yet to spot their famous warm-up, though I saw some unorthodox warm-down drills earlier.

Series leaders South Africa are now playing Tonga.

I'm about to raid the spread of food they've put on in the press box and I'm pretty happy about it.

5.17pm: One man outside the ground is pushing the laws of decency with his racy Rocky Horror Picture Show number but the Austin Powers femme fatales who were posing with him didn't seem to mind too much.

The legendary Australian league icon Steve Menzies has made an appearance - or at least a fan has - along with a group of wrestlers. Pete Stevens, Conrad Rieter and Didge McArthey from Napier have cuffed themselves together, which is bound to be annoying later on.

One family high in the stands appeared to be Scottish fans with their red wigs and kilts but funnily enough turned out to be true-blue Kiwi fans.

Nacho Libre has also made an appearance and one group appear to have got lost on their way to the One Love concert.

The crowd is really starting to sing along to the music now, with Eagle Rock the current DJ choice.

Samoa and the USA are currently battling it out in the middle.

4.51pm: I just spotted a boxer in the crowd, complete with protective head gear. I don't think his sore head in the morning will be from copping too many punches though.

Sports teams appear to be de rigueur this year. I've seen netballers, American football players, and basketballers. A group of Mr Ts look the part and Angus from ACDC is appealing to the rockers in the crowd. There are a few extra and not-so-official-looking law enforcers around the show too. People are still trickling through the gates.

4.41pm: The Colonel has made his first appearance of the day as as the "Colonel" chant rings out for another year. Meanwhile, the Argies are cleaning up the French. And I've just spotted the Pope. Is the Pope a Catholic? I'm not sure in this case.

4.35pm: The alcohol-free chillout zone is still fairly unpopulated, with only two people in there.

I bet the people lined up at the ATMs wish they'd cashed up beforehand.

Yet another ambush for the beleaguered trolley pushers as their cart is hijacked by sperm.

The pink bats guys are still fishing for hugs and one guy dressed as a mermaid is obviously worried about sunburnt nipples as he has covered them with sea-shells.

A stroll away from the red zone has revealed a more family-friendly atmosphere as the crowd thins out considerably.

Everyone seems to be having a pearler of a time.

4.26pm: It looks as though John Key might have relented and agreed to take prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay. Here are a group dressed in the infamous orange jumpsuits.

The walkways under the stadium are a battlezone packed with people in all manner of dress.

There goes the major and husband looking amused at the antics of the crowd. Stadium staff have the unfortunate task of trying to wheel trolleys with food and drink on them. Needless to say the crowd aren't making it easy on them and they're struggling. It's a real sea of people trying to make their way around.

At least they're being sunsmart. This guy is lathering the legs of volunteers with sunscreen.

Note to the crowd: go to the bar before you're thirsty. The lines are huge.

Mortal enemies Batman and the Joker appear to have kissed and made up. A ninja went past and I thought there was going to be a martial arts extravaganza. There wasn't though.

4.12pm: New Zealand's loss to Wales was unexpected and certainly unpopular with the crowd, but all is not lost. Look for NZ to come back strong in their next two games today.
 
Some of the enterprise shown with the costumes has been impressive. Adam and Eve walked past and it tok a double take to realise they weren't actually nude, with stockings and clever placements of leaves ensuring they were decent.
 
Brides-to-be, devils and school-girls were all popular with photographers.
 
Niue took on the Aussies. Apparently one of the Niuen players - who is actually based in Niue, unlike many of the others - has never played in front of a crowd bigger than about 100 people. This is sure to be an experience for him.
 
There is a pretty big crowd here by now but there are still plenty of empty seats. A lot of people are probably indulging in the traditional sevens pasttime of roaming the concourse. Either that or they're at the bar.

See more photos here.

3.34pm: A guy dressed as a communist just told me: "This party is awesome, bro. I love it. I love it. I love it."

The crowd erupted as New Zealand took the field. But now it's misery as Wales dominate.

A group dressed as Super Mario Bros take their seats. That brings back memories.

This man takes the honours after a few too many.

As he gets rid of his breakfast another man dressed as a pilot is helped out by security guards. By the look on his face, he has no idea what's going on.

3.10pm: Reasonably well-behaved crowd so far, but a bunch of Amy Winehouses have arrived and they could be dangeous.

The turnstiles are packed as people are trying to make their way inside.

"Big is good," can be heard being chanted around the concourse as the Mitre 10 Mega men make their way around.

Another group are dressed as air freshener cans. Class.

A Sonny Bill Williams lookalike is roaming beneath the stadium kitted out in Bulldogs gear. He must have walked into the wrong dressing room.

Surcharge be damned - the bar queues are starting to snake. That's gonna hurt worse than the heads in the morning.

Kenya, who are traditional crowd favourites, have taken the field vs Tonga. I didn't spot their famous warm-up dance routine but I'm sure the crowd are eager for it.

Up next? New Zealand.

2.58pm: The New Zealand players have made their way out to the warm-up area and the already vocal crowd has lifted it to another level, even rolling out the "Slow clap". Now there's an honour.

The boys in black look all business. The glare from DJ Forbes' head is blinding even from all the way up in the stands.

One guy in a wheelchair has dressed himself up, wheelchair and all, as Thomas the Tank Engine. Angus from ACDC has also made an appearance, with a lady partner.

2.43pm: There it is - the first drunken stumble of the day. A guy dressed as Ali Baba just came a cropper on the stadium's unforgiving concrete steps.

NZ supercoach Gordon Tietjens is prowling the sidelines as South Africa take on Scotland. The TAB may have New Zealanders as favourites but the South Africans have been the form team in the series so far.

Why is there so much Abba being played?

2.28pm: He might be a couple of months late, but Santa is in the building. And steaming hot, I would assume.

It had to happen - guys dressed as the pink bats man. They're getting plenty of hugs and they sure look the part but they'll rue their choice of costume when the sun gets to them.

There's a guy in a shower cap indecently proposing to one of the Air NZ promo girls. She's not having a bar of it.

Where's Wally? There he is. Or there they are. Along with Duff Man, Hooters girls (boys) and man-babies. Everyone looks in pretty good shape. Early days, but.

The conga line and drums are beating their way around the concourse now too. Not quite as long as I imagine they'll be later on.

A group of 20 karate gurus are patrolling the stadium. If security and the boys in blue aren't up to it, these boys look prepared to throw down the gauntlet.

A security guard at the gate said no one had been turned away yet. Sounds like a responsible crowd thus far.

2.05pm: The carnival atmosphere is now really ramping up.

Ben Stiller's team from the movie Dodgeball are dominating the dodgeball cage on the concourse.

Eric Rush and Dallas Seymour are proving they're still crowd favourites, both being mobbed for photos.

The Hare Krishnas are here too but they haven't tried to convert me.

1.59pm: England and France kicked off - the Poms taking first-up honours. The Argies, who had a pretty impressive samba band accompany them in yesterday's parade, played Canada, and Fiji and the USA are now underway.

The sun is really beaming down and the crowd is starting to build - and surprisingly some are paying some attention to the footy.

Some pretty hard case costumes are starting to appear too.

One couple have come as 'Beached as' and several Flashes have turned up bright and early.

Cavegirls and roller-skate waitresses are also in the crowd while blokes in togs, togs, togs, speedos are out on the concourse lining up for their shot at dodge ball. The cheerleaders are mingling with the masses.

Meanwhile, the on-form South Africans are taking in the action from up in the stands, no doubt planning for their assault on the Wellington Sevens crown.

Meanwhile, I managed to cross the try line and the guy next to me commentating on the radio sounds a whole lot like Ray Warren. Pure entertainment.

1.52pm: The bar staff are napping as they await the influx of people.

I can't imagine they'd be able to relax for too much longer. They'll no doubt be earning their time-and-a-half today.

1.44pm: Now this is commitment. A group of about 20 blokes dressed as friars have shaved bald patches into the tops of their heads. Impressive.

Can't imagine the wives are happy though.

12.46pm: The gates have opened up and the crowd is starting to trickle in, slowly.

Good news though as the wind looks to have died down a bit, judging by the flags, and the sun has also come out.

Though whether that's good news for the hard-drinking, sunscreen-less masses is another story.

The South Africans are warming up down in front of me and are looking pretty serious. Here's hoping Titch and the boys are up for it.

The Fijians are on the other side of the ground and are also expected to be a challenge for the men in black. They look fast.

The first game is the Poms v France. I don't think the crowd will be getting behind either of those teams too much.

12.22pm: The strangest costume yet looks to be devilled sausages. Or at least that's what I think they were.

Wellington rugby player Evan Belford and his mates have come as iPods, which is cool.

12.05pm: Welcome to the NZI Sevens for 2009.

Throughout the day I'll be bringing you all the sights and sounds, action and atmosphere from Westpac Stadium as Wellington's biggest party celebrates its 10th anniversary.

I might even mention a bit of rugby.

For those of you who couldn't get tickets, I commiserate, but there was a bloke trying to get rid of his at the Railway Station - first in first served I presume.

For those of you who will be watching and reading from home, I'll do my best to keep you informed.

A quick stroll through the city earlier this morning showed a few people gathering last-minute supplies.

A troupe of well-dressed Spidermen swung along Lambton Quay and of course, the inevitable Mexicans didn't take long to show themselves. The Mexican Wave is a mere hours away.

More action was spotted at the Dominion Post Fashion in the Field event by the Railway Station.

Fred Dagg has turned up again this year, and I've seen a farmer with some unusual-looking stock.

A group of three also cleverly made up an Air New Zealand plane, with crew.

The Stadium itself however, is still barren as people presumably load up at home in order to avoid the extra toll today's surcharges will place on their wallets. At $6.30 a beer its hard to argue.

The view from the press box isn't too bad though, with a troupe of cheerleaders warming up and band practicing their ABBA covers. Great. They don't sound too shabby though.

Xena is even standing behind me.

A few players are making their way out on to the field to test the ground and kick a few balls around. The foreign teams have their supporters here too, with groups of Fijian and South Africans.

And of course Wellington has turned on another Wellington-esque day ... it's overcast and a bit windy.

With the first game an hour away, the I expect the ground to start filling up shortly and I'll be making my way around the stadium to see what cool costumes and oter shenanigans I can spot.

Go New Zealand.