Come 1pm tomorrow most of the passive-yet-active mob will be at one place: Forsyth Barr Stadium to watch the first defence of the latest Ranfurly Shield reign by Otago.
If Otago win, they get to hold on the shield for summer. Lose, well, let’s not think about that.
One hopes this one lasts longer than two of the past three reigns when Otago lost the shield in their first defence.
Mr Stewart was looking forward to the game, even so far as being tempted to buy a blue and gold jersey.
He had always followed rugby, but said life sometimes got in the way.
He is like many sports fans these days — maintaining an interest, but with so many other things going on, he is a fan rather than a fanatic.
His last visit to the stadium to watch the oval ball was in 2019, when he was new to Dunedin.
"When I was a kid, I was a rabid rugby fan, but then as a sarcastic teenager, things were a bit different."
These days, Mr Stewart says he probably could not name the starting 23 for the next All Black test, but will know when a significant game is on.
And that is tomorrow when high-flying Otago will face cellar-dwellers North Harbour.
"This is a chance to get along for the first defence after that historic win over Canterbury last week."
Mr Stewart, 26, a PhD candidate in history and te reo at the University of Otago, said it would be great to be at the stadium and was picking a 37-20 win over North Harbour.
Otago made history when they managed to beat Canterbury in a tight battle last Saturday — their first win in a shield challenge in Christchurch for 90 years.
