Among the Welsh fans were wives and girlfriends of players. Kate Williams, the wife of team doctor John Williams, was enjoying a drink with friends while waiting for the their husbands and boyfriends to meet the crowds.
"They decided to make a grand exit," Williams said.
She had her cellphone ready to take snaps of her husband. Williams was joined by Nicole Jones, wife of Welsh prop Adam Rhys Jones and Louise James, who is married to fellow prop Paul James. Rounding out the quintet were Kath Brown and Kat Mathema, whose partners also work for the Welsh squad's medical team.
Williams said she flew in on Friday and was amazed by the fan turnout at the hotel. "This is something different. It's more special."
Gareth Basten, 39, and his mother Jean were among the fans lining the Welsh rugby team's route to their tightly-guarded buses, waiting over half an hour.
Gareth, who arrived here in 2006, said he was mightily impressed with the tournament.
"We drove round the entire country. Wherever you go, you see something about the World Cup."
Across the road at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Max Plazotta was waiting with face-painted France supporters for a glimpse of their team.
Plazotta arrived in New Zealand from French rugby's heartland, Toulouse, two months ago. Like the Bastens, Plazotta and his friends used the World Cup as a chance to take a road trip around both islands.
"We bought a car and travelled all around the country. New Zealand is really awesome," he said.
The hub of French fan activity was at Pastis restaurant, two blocks from the team hotel.
The excitement in Auckland was matched by massive turnouts in Britain, while the Welsh flag flew above Downing Street.
At Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, 65,000 fans flocked to cheer on their team from the other side of the world.
