Rugby World Cup: All Blacks welcomed

People crowd into Aotea Square to welcome the All Blacks at the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011. Photo / Janna Dixon

Were you there to welcome the All Blacks?
Send us your photos and videos

Up to 3,000 fans turned out for the All Blacks' official welcome in Auckland's Aotea Square this afternoon.

This was the day that Richie McCaw launched his bid to be the first All Black captain to win the Rugby World Cup in 24 years.

The team were given an official Maori welcome before being presented with their caps by International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset.

The crowd gave Lapasset a warm round of applause for his well-pronounced Maori greeting.

But the biggest cheer was saved for McCaw, who thanked the fans and promised to do everything they could to win the William Webb-Ellis trophy.

"Come the 23rd of October, we've got a wee goal in mind," he said. "There's a lot of hard work to do before then."

Speaking earlier, Mayor Len Brown thanked his "homeboy", All Black coach Graham Henry.

"I'm bloody annoyed I'm not in the team," he joked. "That bloody Piri Weepu has got my spot."

Crowd were entertained by singer Hollie Smith, while MC and Herald on Sunday columnist Kerre Woodham encouraged them to adopt a second team.

Woodham called on Kiwis to be good-natured hosts.

English fan Paul Casebow was there with his 4-year-old daughter Jazmyn. Mother Natalie, a massive All Blacks fan, joked that she would to kick her husband out of the home if the English knocked her heroes out of the Cup.