American satirist and social commentator P.J O'Rourke said of Hong Kong: 'It's a stewing pandemonium: crowded, striving, ugly, and the most fabulous city on earth.' With the two most fabulous rugby teams striving in front of a fervent crowd on Saturday, the city will not miss a beat in the social scrums off the pitch all this week, either. Wallaby great Nick-Farr Jones has played in plenty of Bledisloe Cups and knows the passion that goes into the game. Speaking in Sydney before he flies in this week, he said: 'We're the big nation next door to the smaller one and the Bledisloe Cup stokes the fire of envy and the love-hate relationship between Aussies and Kiwis. We hate each other for 80 minutes on the pitch and then enter into 'the third half of the game' breaking bread and having a beer afterwards.' In unique Hong Kong style, the third half of the game this week will come both before and after the first half. The high-octane carnival calendar kicks off today with the chance to meet both teams.
Get up close and personal today with the All Blacks and Wallabies
Anyone who has a ticket for the game can mingle with their Wallaby and All Black heroes today. The Bledisloe Cup trophy will be on show, and there will be rugby games and other activities. Bledisloe Cup tickets will also be available at the box office at Hong Kong Stadium.
WHO: The world's number 1 and 2 ranked teams
WHAT: Interacting with Hong Kong fans
WHERE: So Kon Po Recreation Ground across from Hong Kong Stadium (entrance on Caroline Hill Road)
WHEN: Today, 11am-1pm