Waikato fans meet their All Black idols

Conrad Smith signs Nikita Scott's t-shirt. Photo / Christine Cornege

Crowds of people looped around the entire Rebel Sports store in Te Rapa, out on to the pavement and past a handful of big shops yesterday just to have a few seconds with the All Blacks as they prepare for their second Rugby World Cup match.

Vili Maratai had been waiting in the queue with his wife and five young children for 2 hours to have a "quick word" with Sonny Bill Williams.

The Hamilton man was there to show his support for the All Blacks and wanted to ask Williams whether he was going to continue playing in New Zealand or go overseas.

"It's just between you, me and him," he said.

"I'm right behind them. We are going to win the World Cup."

Williams joined Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava and Ben Franks in meeting hundreds of excited fans.

But the one-hour slot wasn't long enough to get through them all and some were left waiting in the cold.

Kylee Whitiora knew that the way to get to the All Blacks was through her adorable son and sent her partner, Shanon Adam, off with 4-month-old Sonny Adam to soften the players up.

The rugby foursome happily passed the baby around and signed the back of his white jump suit, which Mrs Whitiora plans to get framed.

Further down the queue, children and adults were starstruck as the All Blacks quickly signed an item each for their fans.

While most people were eyeing up Williams, Jacob Doud couldn't wait to meet Conrad Smith. and the young rugby player was toying with whether to get his cast or top signed.

The 10-year-old's mother, Tracy Hesketh, was among dozens of parents who had let their children take a day off school so they could meet their idols and arrived from Raglan just after 1pm to be at the front of the long queue.

Keegan Parrish, 8, was disappointed his favourite player, Dan Carter, didn't make an appearance but his mother Donna said he would get another chance at Friday's game.