A busy Saturday today with much to do before the Wales v France semi-final clash. Up at 06.45 for a 30km run. During the run I came across a strutting cockerel crowing, a sign of things to come perhaps. After the run I jumped on a bus into town for my last media freebie – a bungy jump off the harbour bridge (backwards – requested, with a head and shoulders submersion into the water – not request).

Afterwards I met Darran Fielding and Alwyn (Adam Jones’ father) at Sky City Hotel for a beer before Darran and I went back to St Heliers to drop off his bag and to meet up with Ruth. Back into town to the Britomart Country Club to meet up with a few other people and then onto Eden Park on the train.

At Eden Park I met up with Russell Isaac who issued me with my instructions for the evening which came as a bit of surprise as I had not expected to have to do anything and I had had several pints of beer to drink. I am required to collect people for interview from various locations inside Eden Park and escort them the interview position. To add to the ‘several pints’  complication the interviews are going out live (to the minute) and I am not  familiar with the layout of level 4 and 5 of the new stand. Anyway, ever the professional, somehow I manage to find and navigate Rhodri Lewis (the Head of Legal at the WRU), Phillip Sella, Gerald Davies and Ieuan Wyn Jones to their interview appointments on time.

I had to be particular insistant in my broken French with Phillipe Sella who wanted ‘un moment s’il vous plait’

15 mins before the kick off I was able to relax (I watched the game from the commentary position).

The game passes in a blur, James Hook lands a penalty after four minutes. For his second kick his left foot slips and the kick goes wide, it had rained unexpectedly just before kick-off.  And then Adam Jones, the cornerstone of the Welsh scrum has to leave to pitch with a strained right calf five minutes later. But this is nothing compare to what happens next.  Sam Warburton, a captain who has led from the front and gained New Zealand plaudits for his strength over the ball, ‘hard yards’ and tackling. He had anticipated a pass to Vincent Clerc and picked up the winger, turned him and then dropped him – a tip tackle which, since Brian O’Driscoll was up-ended on the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, is taboo and a red-card offence.

Hook, a replacement for Priestland who damaged his shoulder in the quarter final, lost his composure,  and is  replaced by  103 times capped Stephen Jones but he is unable to spark the back in the same way  Priestland had in earlier matches.

France puts pressure on Wales at scrum and line and secures penalties which Morgan Parra duly knocks over making the score  9-3. The French look happier without the ball.

Then came the a moment of hope, Wales win a rare line out, Roberts crashes and Mike Phillips powers away from Pascal Papé to make the score 9-8 to France. Stephen Jones takes the conversion which hits the post. This is a followed up by a missed left foot drop-goal.  Finally, Leigh Halfpenny lines up for a long range penalty  which fades under the bar. Game over rover.

A horrible 9-8 nightmare watched from a great vantage point.

After the game, we head to the press conference where a packed room of journalists interrogated Warren Gatland, Sam Warburton, Robert Howley and Shaun Edwards who were a little more outspoken / less diplomatic than they have perhaps been at previous press conferences. Afterwards we met up with Darran and headed back to town and to the French team hotel for a drink (while the mood in the hotel is certainly buoyant it’s clear that the French believe they are lucky to win and are not happy with their team performance). Afterwards, we popped along to the Wales team hotel for a beer and then back to St Heliers – very sad.

Sunday: A lie in this morning after a late night last night and much debate over breakfast over the merits of the ‘red card’ incident. The consensus is that Alan Roland should have ‘bought some time’ by consulting with the touch judges before making a decision. The general view is that the ‘red card’ spoilt the game and potentially the tournament and that a yellow card was appropriate.

In the evening I ran Sam Walsh and his father to Eden Park to watch the ABs v Australia game, a game the ABs win comfortably 20-6.