Wairarapa was rife with All Black fever yesterday when three players from the World Cup squad visited Greytown.
Ma'a Nonu, Victor Vito and Nehe Milner-Skudder came to the town after 13-year-old Amy Rossiter-Stead won a New Zealand Rugby competition with a video explaining why Greytown deserved a visit.
Fashionably late at 10 past 10, the All Blacks arrived at Greytown Ultimate Care, home of Polly Matthews, who was the wife of the late Maori All Black Kingi Matthews.
Senior residents kept it together as the sport stars walked into the room, Ma'a Nonu's arm around Mrs Matthews, while nurses and caregivers tried their best to contain their spilling excitement.
Caregiver Gay Taylor, who wore a plastic apron with the words "please sign here" and arrows pointing to her chest, thrust herself at the men as they walked by, scoring autographs.
Mrs Matthews' great-great-granddaughter, 3-month-old Charlotte Thompson, slept peacefully in her mother's arms, dressed as a miniature All Black.
After cutting a rugby cake with Nonu and being presented with a signed rugby ball, Mrs Matthews took the players to see her memorabilia wall of rugby photographs featuring her husband.
The next stop for Nonu, Vito and Milner-Skudder was at Greytown Early Years where, in silver paint, they printed their hands on to framed canvases.
Centre manager Katie Abbott said the frames would be hung at the centre to "remember the special day".
The trio then painted hands of the children, aged 5 months to 5 years, and helped them make prints, before moving on to Greytown School.
Principal Kevin Mackay, wearing an All Blacks jersey, said the school uniform policy was relaxed for the special occasion, which allowed students to wear their best rugby gear.
"It's going to be a little loose this afternoon, but they will remember forever the time they met the All Blacks," he said.
Five-year-old student Riley Denholm said it was "good" the All Blacks had come to town, "Skudder" was his favourite player, and he couldn't wait to tell his unborn baby sister about the day.
Kapa Haka performed the haka - Ko Wairarapa - as the All Blacks walked into the school court, which was rimmed with star-struck students.
Nonu, Vito and Milner-Skudder then performed the haka along with the students, who did not seem to notice it was pouring with rain.
Vito thanked the pupils and teachers for their support, saying they would need it as they played for the Rugby World Cup.
Students then flooded the sport stars for selfies and autographs.
The All Blacks spent the next hour coaching in running skills and drills.
Amy, who won the All Blacks visit to the town, was "stoked" with the three players who were selected to come.
"Ma'a is doing his last World Cup and then he's retiring, so this a last chance. Nehe is definitely a future star, he's the next big thing, and Victor Vito's awesome."
To mark the day, Amy wore Nonu's rugby jersey from his 2007 New Zealand versus France game, played in Auckland.
At noon, the All Blacks squeezed into the Greytown Town Hall, where hundreds of Wairarapa fans awaited their chance to rub shoulders with the players.
The men shot high-fives to kids as they made their way to the back of the hall and were welcomed by South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples.
Mrs Staples had been disappointed she had not been able to find her All Black supporter jersey to wear for the event.
Addressing the crowd, she thanked Amy, and the Greytown community that had helped her, for making the video that had won the guest visit.
"I know that the weight of New Zealand is on your shoulders but I know you can do it.
"You can bring the world cup home," said Mrs Staples.
After laughing off questions from the crowd, such as "Which All Black spends the most time in front of the mirror?" and "Are you guys wearing Jockey underpants?", the men signed autographs.
Carterton Mayor John Booth and Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson eagerly awaited an opportunity to get a "selfie with the boys".
South Wairarapa councillor Brian Jephson said it was great to see the All Blacks in town.
He said he was going to the world cup.
"I'm so excited to see them there.
"The All Blacks have never won a world cup offshore and no one has ever won it twice in a row.
"I want to witness history being made. I have a feeling it's going to happen."
Vito told the Times-Age he would be packing almond-gold Whittaker's chocolate in his suitcase for the world cup trip.
Milner-Skudder said he would be taking "boots, mouthguard and lucky undies".
Greytown butcher Gavin Green put on a free sausage sizzle for the public outside the town hall, with his award-winning sausages.
The last stop for the All Blacks' Wairarapa visit was Carterton School, where students greeted them into a special "All Black assembly" with the haka.