Well, here in NZ, the general public is going apeshit about the All Blacks v Canada match, it's all being pundited to death as though there were *any* chance at all of it being anything other than a Maple Leaf massacre.

Myself, I have the wonderful job of learning the national anthems for the France v Tonga match in Wellington on Saturday. Even if it's overshadowed by the AB's, this game holds out the prospect of much better rugby. But even so, I'll be surprised if the Bleus don't win.

I'm OK with the "Marseillaise", having lived in Belgium and speaking fluent, if rusty, French. Tonga's anthem is actually rather nice, but the words are difficult to learn.

If anyone is watching the beginning of this match, the NZCF choir stands in a two-row semi-circle behind the two national flags and the teams line-up. We dress in black, with the RWC scarf round our necks. And while the orchestra comes on a pre-recorded tape, and there *is* a choral tape too, we are told that in the matches so far, the TV crews have been getting good enough sound off the field choir to be using that in the broadcasts. Anyway, I'll be in the bass back row, second from the left as you look at the flags. Wish me luck!