Huge roars of excitement and applause rang through Auckland Airport this morning as the winning All Blacks walked into the arrivals lounge to thousands of adoring fans. The terminal was packed as fans jostled to see the rugby world champions.
The cheers were deafening, the excitement palpable as the World Cup winning All Blacks touched down on home soil to be met by thousands of screaming fans.
It made for an "overwhelming", "unreal" and "pretty awesome" welcome home, the team said.
Packed into Auckland International Airport from the early hours of the morning, rugby-mad fans were hard pressed to get a good vantage point if they showed up less than an hour before flight NZ1 was due to land at 7am.
Security and police had cordoned off parts of the international arrivals lounge, keeping excited fans behind barriers.
Crowds at the door of the team's bus. Photo / Doug Sherring
But their enthusiasm wasn't to be dampened - armed with banners, signs, flags, thunder sticks and with faces painted with permanent smiles as well as black and white face paint, silver ferns and 'All Blacks' writing.
Music blared out of speakers in the run up to the flight coming in, and the patient crowd sang renditions of the national anthem, the haka and chants of 'All Blacks', clap, clap, clap, 'All Blacks' to pass the time.
Updates of the flight's progress garnered loud cheers, especially when it went out over the loudspeaker that the plane had landed, they had disembarked, then were 10 minutes away.
Air New Zealand staff performed a haka on the tarmac after the flight touched down. Photo / Greg Bowker
But nothing compared to the noise which rang out through the airport as the boys walked through the arrivals gate. Cheers, screams and applause, flags and signs waving as captain Richie McCaw and Coach Steven Hansen led the way, the Webb Ellis Cup in the arms of the star skipper.
Hansen and McCaw took to a small stage set up for the occasion, while the rest of the team - dressed in matching black and white checked shirts - filed to one side, smiling at the crowd. Some took photos on their own phones of the welcome that greeted them, others broke ranks and shook hands, signed autographs, and had their photos taken with fans.
It was a heroes' welcome, and felt "pretty awesome", McCaw said.
He and Hansen spoke briefly to the crowd from the stage, with their words almost drowned out by the raucous crowd.
The team "really appreciated" the support fans had given them from home, McCaw said.
He was "glad to be home" and would "enjoy the next few days", he said.
Listen - Richie McCaw, Ian Foster and Steve Tew talk to Andrew Dickens after the All Blacks landed in Auckland:
"Thanks very much for your support," said Hansen.
Speaking to media afterwards, Hansen said the welcome was "overwhelming".
"We expected to have a bit of a crowd here, but this is amazing."
Dan Carter said the crowd at Auckland Airport was "unreal".
Dan Carter speaks to the media. Photo / Doug Sherring
"It's a dream homecoming ... it's been a long time away and we've had some amazing supporters back home."
It was "such a special feeling" to come home to, he said.
"It never gets old."
"To be back home and to celebrate with friends and family and the amazing supporters we've got here is something all the guys were looking forward to."
Sonny Bill Williams arriving at Auckland Airport. Photo / Greg Bowker
Sonny Bill Williams wife Alana Raffie is seen with their daughter Imaan. Photo / Doug Sherring
Sam Cane said he was "blown away" by the reaction.
"We heard a little bit while we were away through friends and social media that the country was going pretty nuts, but to come back and see this sort of support at this time in the morning is just mind blowing and takes away any jetlag or any tiredness.
"We are just extremely grateful for all this support."
It would be a "busy couple of days", Cane said, with the welcome home parades planned throughout the country, but said "it's the people like this who support us that make it so special".
Ma'a Nonu described the reception as "pretty crazy".
"We're happy we could do it for the country and our supporters here," he said.
"I couldn't explain it in words, I think. I just left it all out there on the field, really enjoyed the last few days with the boys, last time I'm going to be in the jersey so..."
Smart phones and tablets held up in the air, many hooked into selfie-sticks, were the only way some in the crowd managed to catch a glimpse of their heroes. But others were lucky enough to meet their idols.
Olivia Kneebone, 10, said it was "awesome" to see her rugby heroes.
Olivia Kneebone, 10, her friend Libby Tomks, 9, and Olivia's mum Inge Schiffer. Photo / Patrice Dougan
While she she didn't get a chance to speak to her favourite player, Nonu, she did speak to Waisake Naholo, which she said was "really amazing".
Olivia, from Matamata, got up at 2.30am to make sure she would be in prime position to meet her idols. She and her mum Inge Schiffer and a group of friends made the journey to be at Auckland Airport by 5am.
It was "definitely" worth the early start, Olivia said, adding: "I'd do it again."
Rugby mad mates George Witana, Elliott Worsley, George Hyslop, Robbie Takotohiwi and Henry Hyslop travelled from Whakatane to catch a glimpse of the All Blacks.
The trip was worth it, they said, after getting to see Sonny Bill Williams.
"I got a photo with Sonny Bill," screamed Elliott. "Woo ... I touched his face."
The boys left Whakatane at 1am to get to the airport in time to see the boys in black.
"It was so worth it. We love the All Blacks."
Santiago Olds, 7, scored a number of All Blacks autographs on a mini rugby ball and on his shoes.
"I got Nehe Milner-Skudder, and TJ Perenara on my shoe," he said, proudly displaying the signatures.
"It was good."
His mum Monika Olds said the family -- including Clements Olds, 6, Mathew Ritchie, 10, Boh Ritchie, 8, Dan Ritchie, 7, and their dad Sam Ritchie -- got up at 5am to be at the airport for 6.10am.
"It was full," she said.
"We squeezed in by a lovely security guard, and she was really good to our kids, she let them sort of go a little bit further than what they should, which was really lovely."
Seeing the All Blacks had "made their day", she said of the kids.
"The country was all together as one," Jason said.
"That's what I love about New Zealand culture, like we're all together celebrating the All Blacks as one."
Miranda agreed: "It was really like a family, and like [saying] 'all of us support the All Blacks', everyone coming together."
The All Blacks have now arrived at an Auckland hotel.
Where to see the All Blacks
The All Blacks will soon make their way to Victoria Park where an event to welcome them home and congratulate their achievement will get under way at noon.
Victoria Park celebration 11am: Victoria Park entertainment- DJ 11.30am: Victoria Park entertainment- Ladi 6 11.45am: All Blacks depart hotel 12.20pm: Victoria Park entertainment- Sol3 Mio 12.30pm: Victoria Park- All Blacks welcomed onto Victoria Park with a karanga 12.45pm: Al Blacks make their way to the stage 1.10pm: All Blacks welcomed to the stage 1.20pm: Haka from schools 1.30pm: Sol3 Mio 1.35pm: Mayor Len Brown 1.40pm: Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw 1.50pm: Q&A with the All Blacks 2pm: Team exits the stage 2pm: Victoria Park entertainment- Modern Maori Quartet 2.10pm: Victoria Park entertainment- DJ 2.30pm: Event concludes
