House of pain ... for someone

Whether the All Blacks win or lose their Rugby World Cup semifinal tonight, Brent New is damned.

That's because the avid Dunedin supporter is married to enthusiastic English rugby fan Dawn.

If the All Blacks lose (heaven forbid), he will be devastated and will get a "major ribbing" from his wife, who will have all the gloating rights, he said yesterday.

If they win, life may not be much better.

He reckons he is likely to get the cold shoulder for a while, and will have to woo her back by making breakfast in bed and cups of tea for the next week ... at least.

Mrs New is originally from Kent, in the south of England, while Mr New was born and raised in Dunedin.

Rival flags wave above the News’ Dunedin house. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON
Rival flags wave above the News’ Dunedin house. PHOTOS: GREGOR RICHARDSON

The couple have been happily married for more than 30 years, and the only time there has been a bit of friction in their relationship has been when their two teams met.

"It's been a long-term battle between the two of us," Mrs New said.

"I won't give him too much of a hard time, as long as he makes the tea.

"For me, it's a win-win situation. I'm easy either way."

Mr New said their children would be away tonight, and he and his wife were looking forward to watching the game together with a quiet drink.

"The atmosphere - there will be a lot of laughing and giggling, and the odd snide comment now and then, but it'll be all right.

"It's always a good game when England is playing the All Blacks."

Asked to predict the score of tonight's game, Mrs New said it would be too difficult.

Mr New was more confident.

"We'll be up by 20. There'll be a runaway in the second half. The boys will pull through."

He didn't appear to be quite so confident about how his life would be tomorrow morning.

"As long as it's a good game, I'll be all right.

 

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