All Blacks: Apia crowd reduced to 8000

The All Blacks are preparing to take on Samoa for the first time in seven years. Photo / Getty

The All Blacks and Samoa will play in front of just 8000 fans at Apia Park on Wednesday.

Renovations and safety concerns over temporary seating plans have led to the usual 12,000 capacity being slashed, Stuff reported.

There has also been criticism over ticket prices - the 3000 cheapest $22 tickets had yet to sell out. Others range from $57 to $287.

Former captain Mahonri Schwalger told Stuff: "You can't go and watch a game because your family will be hungry the next day - it's not a big country, there's not enough jobs."

But former All Blacks wing Inga Tuigamala, based in Apia, said Samoan rugby needed to make money from the game.

"The expensiveness of the tickets has not dampened the spirits - it's one big party," he said.
Many Samoans will watch the game on big screens around the the park.