Crowds have begun flocking to Eden Park ahead of tonight's Bledisloe Cup decider.
Fans have been gathering at nearby Kingsland since mid-afternoon, with bars and restaurants on New North Road doing a brisk trade.
![Harold Corbett and son-in-law James Dobbie. Photo / Simon Plumb](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/IMZUKN4MOLW6NX6GCIE4HVMBZ4.jpg?auth=b7cd67d0346790931d4fcb3b81067b44b80f2efd99cb9ef1e56f755030f9e164&width=16&height=12&quality=70&smart=true)
A sell-out crowd of almost 50,000 fans will fill the Auckland ground, as the All Blacks seek to retain the Bledisloe Cup and provide captain Richie McCaw a victory to celebrate his world record-breaking 142nd test cap.
Lose, however, and it's kiss goodbye to McCaw's double celebration, the All Blacks' 12-year Bledisloe Cup winning streak and potentially masses of confidence just a month out from the launch of their Rugby World Cup defence in the UK - where they are trying to become the first team ever to win back-to-back RWC titles.