Today should be a great day, it's what we are here for. Tonight we see our first game of rugby as Italy take in Russia at Trafalgar Park.

The day starts out slow enough, a lay in is enjoyed, as the alarm clock doesn't go off until 0900. With nothing in particular planned for the day time, we get up leisurely and take a walk along Nelsons beach towards town.

The vistas on offer from the beach are truly amazing. On one side you have the city of Nelson, rising up towards the hills. On another, you have the ocean, looking smooth and calm this morning, and on another side you have the snow capped mountain peaks. I would argue that it would be difficult to find a more perfect location anywhere.

After taking in all we can, and spending an eternity trying to take a photo that will do justice to the surroundings, we continue the trek towards town, walking through the town itself on this occasion, through the park and over to the 'Centre of New Zealand' where a recreation of the first rugby game as held earlier today.

With the evening drawing closer, we make our way back through the town, with a bit of shopping along the way and back to the hotel for a breather.

We leave the hotel just before six and get the bus to the ground, arriving about thirty minutes later and noticing how many Italian fans there are in the area, most of them Nelson locals rather than fans from Italy itself.

The atmosphere in the stadium is extremely good humoured, with fans of all nations mixing in the stands and enjoying the pre game entertainment, which is provided by the New Zealand Army Band, the only marching band I gave ever seen who include a Haka in their routine!

Shortly after, the national anthems of both Italy and then Russia are performed and the game kicks off. What can be said about the game? It was probably as one sided as I have seen, at least in the first half, as Italy, the team who regularly win the wooden spoon in the Six Nations run in a total of nine tries against the Russians in a 53 - 17 win.

The three tries that were scored by the Russians though were the first they have ever scored in the World Cup.

The whole evening was exceptionally well organised by the Kiwis, and the buses were waiting as we left the stadium, and within 30 minutes of the game ending, we are back in the hotel. A great day today, and another leisurely one coming up tomorrow, our last full day in Nelson.