Even The Old Bill Is Taking The Night Off

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday November 22, 2003

Peter Munro

Sydney's social calender has been rewritten for tonight, its clocks turned back, moved forward or stopped dead, as the city shuffles to cater for the final of the Rugby World Cup.

The greatest single sign of disorder, perhaps, is the ABC's cancellation of The Bill. Viewers must wait another three nights for the resolution to last Tuesday's cliffhanger killing of the unpleasant Sergeant Matthew Boyden .

An ABC spokeswoman said the move was necessary to coincidewith the launch of a spin-off series. ``It's just happened that way, butthank God, because imagine how many people would be watching anything other than the rugby," she said.

Other events have tried to cash in on the 8pm match between Australia and England. ``If the red, white and blue stirs your blood, this is the event for you," reads one promotion, not for the rugby, but for the Best of British musical extravaganza at the Sydney Opera House. Thankfully for its promoters, the performance is at 2pm. Lovers of ballet, chamber music and contemporary dance will use a special entrance to attend their evening shows, rather than compete with crowds at the Roy & HG double act on the Opera House forecourt.

Many non-rugby private functions have been either cancelled or skewed to reflect the sport's 48-day chokehold on Sydney. Anthea Leonard , owner of Sweet Art event designers and planners, has organised a wedding this afternoon for a couple on their seven-year anniversary. ``It was the wedding or the final," she said. ``They honestly struggled with their decision but romance won out." Rugby, though, will still play a role. Ms Leonard had set up a separate room at the reception for a television set.

She said Sydney's social calendar had been awry for the past few weeks. ``It hasn't just been mucked around for this one night. It has been mucked around for all the games."

Miccal Cummins, a partner in Gastronomy caterers, said he had taken a rush of bookings for people hosting rugby-related events tonight. He had no wedding bookings in October and his first November wedding is today, when he would normally do four each weekend.

Ryde Italian restaurant Il Vicolo has taken about 90 bookings for a special 4pm to 6pm dinner service for fans on their way to Telstra Stadium. Owner Michel Rossetti said business had been slow most days during the contest. ``Whenever there's a game down in Telstra Stadium we're flat out, but during the week it's been a shocker," he said.

For hotels and casinos, however, the World Cup has been a wonder. But Mr Rossetti was not tempted to compete for the same market. ``I think if people want screens they can go to a pub," he said.