The All Blacks were the hottest ticket in town as the largest crowd in decades crammed into Yarrow Stadium last night.
Pre-match fears that fans might be turned away for having counterfeited tickets proved largely unfounded, but there was a healthy trade in genuine tickets outside the ground as 23,000 people rolled up.
Emma Grant, 22, sold her ex-boyfriend's ticket for $50. "I had bought it for his birthday as a surprise, but he broke up with me via text," said Grant, who still went to the match with friends. "I wanted to rub salt in the wound, so I sold it to a mate who is supporting the French."
French national Louis DeSole, who lives in New Plymouth, sold his ticket for double the face value.
"A guy offered double what I paid for the ticket. I figure he will have more fun shouting for the All Blacks, and I will drown my sorrows in the bar instead."