With the seventh Rugby World Cup now underway in New Zealand, what are England’s chances?
The Rugby World Cup, which takes place from September 9 to October 23, has seen hosts New Zealand crush Tonga 41:10 in the opening match.
The much fancied All Blacks will have to deal with the weight of expectation in their home country, just as England manager Martin Johnson has heaped on the pressure with his demand for a 'big start' in England’s opening match against Argentina. (At 9.30 am our time tomorrow, Saturday 9
th September.)
The early morning kick-offs – with matches scheduled to start from 2.00 am our time throughout the tournament – will have an (albeit limited) impact on the local property market in Chiswick. Rugby fan Christian Harper of
OliverFinn explains: “We have had a couple of clients requesting that we hold off on morning viewings over the next few weekends so they can watch the rugby undisturbed.
“In my own household, we have an England/Ireland clash as my wife is Irish. It remains to be seen what impact this conflict of interests will have on my son as he’s only two.
“My wife doesn’t want him to play rugby as she ‘doesn’t want him broken’. But I’m hoping to sign him up to a local rugby club when he’s old enough and I hope he sees sense and adopts his birth nation.” No pressure there then.
NZ/W4 property price comparison
An estimated 85,000 rugby fans have travelled to New Zealand - including 24,000 Brits - to cheer the teams and soak up the atmosphere.
Many of these visitors will no doubt fantasise about buying a home down under, and may even do the occasional online property search to find out what they could get for their money if they sold their property back home.
Auckland has seen the biggest price rises due to increased demand according to Auckland estate agent Barfoot & Thompson: “Our average selling price across 758 homes in August was $531,042."
The latest Land Registry
figures show that the average price of a home sold in Chiswick, W4 during the second quarter of this year, was £660,470. This illustrates the testing times ahead for property investors as well as rugby enthusiasts.
Will England be in the final once again on 23 October? “With this England side anything is possible”, says Harper. “In the meantime my prediction for tomorrow’s match against Argentina is a 23:10 win for England.”
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Where in
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Where in Chiswick to watch the Rugby World Cup:
Packhorse & Talbot
