Fans navigate the Auckland viaduct ahead of the Rugby World Cup final. Photo / Cassandra Mason
Live updates from around Auckland as the city prepares for the Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and France later tonight.
3.28pm: French ambassador Francis Etienne says his team is not bothered by its underdog status for the final:
"We are the underdogs, but we love to play as the underdogs, that makes us hungry and we will release our own dogs,'' said Mr Etienne.
3.16pm:
nzherald.co.nz's Jeremy Rees reports from Auckland CBD:
Central Auckland is a heaving mass of partying New Zealanders, almost all of them dressed in black to support the All Blacks ahead of the Rugby World Cup final.
Already the Queens Wharf area has filled up and it's over an hour to get in.
There are pockets of French supporters wearing the red, white and blue of Les Bleus, good naturedly and taking photographs with New Zealand supporters wishing them well but not too well.
Outside Cin Cin on Quay a group of around 50 supporters have set up camp chanting over and over again 'Allez le blues, Allez le blues".
The atmosphere is almost jovial and relaxed but for New Zealanders tinged with nerves ahead of tonight's final and the possibility of the first Rugby World Cup title in 24 years.
It looks like every bar in central Auckland is packed with All Black supporters.
3.10pm:
TRANSPORT UPDATE
Singing French and All Blacks fans are packing out trains and buses as they head into the Auckland waterfront for the Rugby World Cup final.
Veolia Transport said trains were busy heading into Britomart - with carriages particularly crowded on the western and eastern lines.
Spokeswoman Brooke Donavan said a fleet of 249 buses was in service to relieve pressure on busy stations including the Sylvia Park hub.
When a station had about 40 people waiting, a busy was sent to take some supporters to the city, she said.
At the waterfront, All Black fans are drowning out pockets of French supporters, who are shouting their traditional chant "Allez les bleus".
The temporary 'Cloud' events centre was already at capacity and closed off to fans, reports said.
Britomart Transport Centre was bustling with full trains unloading there from midday.
2.58pm:
Auckland RWC 2011 communications manager Simon Roche says people heading to the fan zone in Auckland's viaduct should plan on heading to Captain Cook Wharf which is now open. He said Queens Wharf is very busy with more than 9,000 fans already in the fan zone.
2.44pm: The weather looks set to be ideal for tonight's Rugby World Cup final, with weatherwatch.co.nz picking the cloudy, dry conditions in Auckland to last for the rest of the day.
2.30pm:
It's the final day of the Rugby World Cup and we're only six and a half hours away from kickoff between the All Blacks and France.
Stick with us as we bring updates from around the city as Auckland prepares to host the biggest All Black game ever.
nzherald.co.nz's Paul Harper and Hayden Donnell will send updates from the viaduct throughout the afternoon before heading to Eden Park. They'll chat to fans of both camps and get a sense of the atmosphere across the city.
Then from 8.30pm we'll have live updates from the ground along with live commentary of the big game.
- HERALD ONLINE
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