French rugby fans gearing up for a big night in Auckland. Photo / Doug Sherring
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nzherald.co.nz will have live commentary of the All Blacks v France at and livescoring of the NZ Warriors v Melbourne Storm preliminary semifinal from 9.30pm.
Masses of French fans are clustered around the tunnel entrance chanting what I believe is "allez les bleus". Sorry to any French people offended by my spelling. They are also singing and carousing and wearing skin tight white red and blue jumpsuits. This is the place to be.
Alright, things have changed. Toilet lines have shortened down here at party central, but expect to wait if you're buying beer or wine.
We also have a lot of French fans down here. I can tell you the French women are just as cute as you may have heard. I'm sure the Frenchmen are equally attractive. Single Kiwis, come down to Queens Wharf and work your one-liners!
The security guy says teams will get here at about 7:45pm. When the All Blacks arrived for the Tonga match, the scenes outside were something like a 1960s Beatles tour.
I've done a rough count of the media room and it seems the male to female ratio is 83-7. Coincidentally the same score as the All Blacks-Japan match.
Zac Guildford is on the pitch with a few other All Blacks, waiting to do warm up drills. No obvious signs of intoxication. Ali Williams and Andrew Hore are patrolling the tryline outside our media centre.
There is a huge number of French supporters here. They are sitting in big clusters in some of the best seats in the house. None seem to have been hit with any abuse or bottles so far. On a scale of 1 to the amount of hatred Australian fans encounter (10), I'd give it a 2. Mildly disgruntled but begrudgingly respectful. It helps their cause that there's heaps of them and they're all dressed so comically.
There is a long queue for the men's toilets in the Cloud, however there is no line for the women's loos. Obviously the blokes are drinking more. Standing in the line, we were wondering whether it would be alright for us to use the ladies', just like the girls often use the blokes' when there's a long queue for their toilets. Thoughts?
Beer queues are short though. The English around us are having a good time too.
The first few hundred fans have entered Eden Park, where early birds are being treated to a big-screen broadcast of the match between England and Romania.
Fans clad in the French tricolour are getting warm welcomes from All Blacks fans.
The Red Rose lead 27-0. It's been a game for the wide men with Mark Cueto bagging a firsthalf hattrick and Chris Ashton going over for one.
C'mon Romania!
Thanks to the brilliant citizen photographers out on the streets of Auckland, your pics are now in our reader's gallery.
We love your pics so send them in - awesome to see lots of costumes, colour and people having fun.
Hayden
The first lot of fans has just started filing into Eden Park. They're walking through the near-empty stands finding the seats they'll be camped out in for the next five or so hours. There is a disproportionate amount of French fans in the early going. Apparently they were more scared of the threatened transport apocalpyse.
Jeremy
There are signs that the gates are opening at Eden Park for the most eagerly anticipated game in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup.
Fans dressed in the French red, white and blue,d as well as black-clad New Zealanders, have begun converging on the Park, as well as neighbouring suburbs of Kingsland and Mt Eden.
In Mt Eden, the village bars and cafes are packed. The village is a sea of black supporters at the moment with cars festooned in New Zealand flags tooting support at supporters walking to the park.
Public transport is so far coping as thousands of people stream to Auckland's waterfront and Eden Park for tonight's All Blacks-France game.
A sell out crowd of 60,000 is set to be at the ground to see the much-awaited match at 8pm and thousands more are expected to watch on giant screens at Queens Wharf.
They are expected to test a public transport system that has come under heavy criticism since massive delays plagued the opening night of the World Cup.
Auckland Transport spokeswoman Sharon Hunter said while buses from North Shore were packed, trains were only moderately full at most places around Auckland at 5:30pm.
Services were most under pressure between the central Britomart transport centre and the suburb of Kingsland, she said.
Ms Hunter said the change was part because those traveling to town or the match had heeded a warning against being "last minute merchants".
"Because we're such a small population we rock up to things at the last minute. You have to take more time. People seem to be heeding that warning so far."
Hundreds of people have already arrived at Eden Park ready for gates to open at 6pm.
Roads around the ground were mostly clear.
Auckland Rugby World Cup spokesman Simon Roche said 'Party Central' at Queens Wharf was not full at about 5:20pm.
He said a spill area at Cooks Wharf was ready to be opened once crowds built up.
Here's a preview: England v Romania for the Pool B match.
lookdownsouth
Kiwi gals in french maid outfits (the irony!) dancing cnr queen & victoria sts auckland every time traffic light red. Top show. #rwc
4Rosita
#RWC2011 buzz in Auckland is majorly mind blowing compared to Wellys i'll be honest straight up ... zzz in Wellys.. SNAP DRAGON #blazing
The sun has gone behind the Cloud, so to speak. The wind has also picked up, so it's getting chilly. If you're coming down to Queen's Wharf for the rugby, wear a hoodie. Bring one for me too!
He may be the boo-man of the Rugby World Cup (hear the crowds boo all his kicks at goal last night?) but you can't fault the guy for admiring God's own.
Great photo! RT @quadecooper: Check this pic out...nz looking great! http://t.co/YZ1pVuKh #RWC2011 #newzealand
Early action already down at a packed party central. Security approach a group of guys throwing and kicking a ball around in front of the main stage. but before the security guards can take the ball, one of the guys kicks it into the water, narrowly missing a small boat. The couple on the boat turn the vessel around and the woman fishes the ball out of the drink with a net. To the cheers of the crowd the man attempts to kick the ball back on to the wharf, but only puts it back in the harbour. Surf life savers on an IRB retrieve the ball and flings it over the fence, only for the awaiting security to get the ball.
Big crowd here already, looks likely the fan zone will need to be extended later on.
It's a webcam of the Queen's Wharf Area which snaps the Party Central area.
By moving your cursor over to the right, you will be able to see an almost 'live' view. At most, it should be 5-10 minutes out of date.
Very cool!
JoeDescartes
Lots of tricolor down here at the auckland waterfront. Smiling faces; no ABs tho #rwc
NgaiWill
just came through from the city and must warn shoreites that traffic is building already #RWC2011 @auckland2011.
Philip Duncan
Satellite just west of Greymouth - quickly heading towards Northland
karlnathanNZ
France must be empty! GREAT atmosphere downtown. Queen's wharf buzzing #realnzfestival #auckland #RWC2011
H_Davison
Huge numbers of French supporters heading down Beach Road towards party central #RWC2011
nzrckstr
Kingsland starting to fill up. The sun is out. Happy vibe. #RWC2011
fraserinwine
Filling up on great food and wine befor. The game tonight! #AllBlacks #RWC2011
BelindaMcCammon
French supporters seem to be out numbering AB supporters down Queen St at least, they're everywhere. #rwc2011
England players were questioned by police as soon as they landed at Christchurch Airport.