‘Nobody’s wearing masks’: Rugby fans return in New Zealand

Monday, 15 June 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

DUNEDIN, AFP: More than 20,000 fans witnessed the Otago Highlanders edge a 28-27 thriller against the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday as New Zealand welcomed the return of live sport after the coronavirus.

The highest profile sports fixture worldwide since the pandemic, and one of the first with an unrestricted crowd, did not disappoint, as Bryn Gatland’s last-gasp drop goal settled a nail-biter in Dunedin.

Gatland drilled the winning points in the 79th minute, denying the Chiefs – who are coached by his father, ex-Wales boss Warren – after they had snatched the lead with their own drop goal just a minute earlier.

The Super Rugby Aotearoa game was played in a festival atmosphere at the Forsyth Barr Stadium just six days after New Zealand declared itself free of COVID-19 and lifted restrictions on mass gatherings.

“Actually being able to watch a rugby game after quarantine, we’ve come a long way since COVID. I think New Zealand’s doing pretty good,” a fan named Jordan told AFP.

Gatland was only brought on to the bench for the Highlanders after Josh Ioane pulled out with a groin strain, and came on for his game-winning cameo near the end.

In a tense finish, Damian McKenzie’s drop goal put the Chiefs ahead, only for Gatland to settle the contest with his long-distance reply from nearly 40 m.

“I never imagined it would be like that,” Highlanders captain Ash Dixon said.

“It wasn’t perfect but we gutsed it out and playing a quality side like the Chiefs we just kept trying to compete as much as we could and managed to just be on the right side of the ledger at the end.” As fans flowed through the gates there was no sign of face masks or sanitiser – or the cardboard cut-outs used to fill empty stadiums in other countries where crowds are still barred.