Pundits stir the pot of pride at Bond-themed annual Long Lunch
It was a case of shaking up the laughs and stirring the pot of nationalistic pride at the Helmsec Valley 7s Long Lunch in the massive marquee in the grounds opposite the stadium yesterday. For the first time since the lunch's inception nearly 20 years ago, guests were advised of the theme in advance.
Hundreds of people in the financial sector lend their support to charity, this year in a Bond-themed event to celebrate 50 years of 007, and the annual foray into laughs.
One posse from Sydney wore "Kill Bond" T-shirts. The troupe's spokesman and possible Bond henchman Steve Pollard said: "This is a sideline tour for a bike trip in Vietnam and is proving a mighty stopover. Last night we discovered Lan Kwai Fong, which I can only remember as 'lick my thong', being the typical Australian Thong."
MC John Bentley proved that as a Mamil (Middle Aged Man In Lycra) dressed as Pussy Galore that he could still tell a "tail" or two. He played up the rivalries between former England player Scott Gibbs and former Wallaby Phil Waugh.
With the Lions tour of Australia less than three months away - and the stopover in Hong Kong on June 1 to play the Barbarians - there was plenty of fuel to pour on the fire of nationalistic pride, but there was a certain magnanimity. "Every ruck was a brawl and we loved it," said Gibbs with a laugh, who revealed "Australia are the best technicians in the world of rugby."
Waugh showed his passion for the game when he revealed: "As players, we live for the World Cup every four years and the Lions tour every 12 years, but when it comes to World Cups everyone in New Zealand gets behind the game. Even Helen Clark defends Richie McCaw."
Every year, more than HK$1.5 million is raised for charity, and this year looked no different.
