Excitement building slowly for Rugby World Cup clash

About 100 people, including city councillors and staff, gather for the official launch of Garden Place. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hamilton appears to be waiting for a dose of rugby-party fever if the crowd at last night's grand opening of Garden Place is anything to go by.

Around 100 people, including city councillors and staff, gathered for the official launch of Garden Place and a free glide around the ice rink - but the celebrations were cut short by the rain and would-be ice skaters went home without even hitting the ice. Not even the mayor got to take her first official skate around the rink.

After a blessing and a few words, Mayor Julie Hardaker opened the area which as part of the year-long revamp has a colourful water feature, blueberry kiosk, covered reading room, garden planters and an outdoor stage.

Ms Hardaker said while some had been sceptical about the project, she thought it looked excellent and fitted the purpose to connect with Wintec and the river and provide a place for people to meet and relax in.

And while there were other events in the city yesterday, including the Breakers basketball game at the new Claudelands Arena, All Black supporters in the CBD were scarce.

An elderly couple waved a black flag in Garden Place and a couple could be found among people enjoying after-work drinks in the popular Hood St precinct. The fan zone on Alexandra and Hood St, which opens tonight at 6pm, had yet to be set up and the biggest crowds were keeping warm at the north-end bars.

Even the few tourists the Herald spotted in Garden Place weren't in the city for the rugby.

English tourists Matt Dingley and Emma Mildon were in Hamilton for one night but admitted it was pure coincidence their 10-week New Zealand tour coincided with the Rugby World Cup. The tourists thought Hamilton was "lovely" and Emma - who had visited six years ago - said she barely recognised the city except for the Riff Raff statue.

Vietnamese student Quany Nguyen was in Garden Place with friends to take his last few photos in front of the new fountain of the city before flying to Wellington last night to live. He had been in Hamilton for 10 months learning English and said he was disappointed to miss the game, but thought the All Blacks would crush Japan.

Authorities hope the excitement will catch on today, with 30,000 people heading to the stadium and thousands expected to be watching at venues around town.

Hamilton Rugby World Cup ambassador Peter Bos said he felt "like a kid waiting for Christmas morning".

"This has been five years in the making, with the help of a lot of great staff and volunteers, and I really can't wait for it to start."

Meanwhile, the All Blacks did their bit to start the party with a meet and greet in Te Rapa earlier in the day.

The All Blacks and Japan took time out of their preparations yesterday to raise money for quake-stricken Christchurch and Japan.

The Friends of Christchurch-Japan Benefit Breakfast at SkyCity's Hamilton Function Centre included Graham Henry, Mils Muliaina and Japan coach John Kirwan.

"We're taking the thoughts of people from home with us on to the field," Kirwan said. "For them, it's just about getting up and keeping going every day, and that's what we're going to do on the field."

Hamilton games

* New Zealand vs Japan
Tonight, 8pm.
* Wales vs Samoa
Sunday, September 18, 3.30pm.
* Wales vs Fiji
Sunday, October 2, 6pm.