ABs complete party after hen's night

A group of women made yesterday's All Blacks team part of a hen's party. They are Naomi Brown (left), Melanie Gichard, Alice Oswald, Holly Moore, Kimberly Bruce, Fiona Gichard and Robyn Gichard. Photo / George Novak

A late-night hen's party did not stop one group of women getting up early to watch the All Blacks thrash France.

Melanie Gichard had her hen's party in Tauranga on Saturday night and all revellers were up early Sunday morning, albeit a bit blurry-eyed, to watch the quarter-final match at World's End Bar and Restaurant.

The women were pleased with the All Blacks' 62-13 win.

"The All Blacks played a lot better, they upped their game. I don't know what I was worried about," Melanie said.

She had been watching the World Cup games and said there had been "a few 4am mornings".

There was a "great atmosphere" at the bar.

Fiona Gichard said she had been keeping up with all the games and this had been the best All Blacks match so far.

"To score that high in a quarter-final is a good sign for the coming games."

Fiona was predicting a New Zealand v Australia final, although she said she would love to see Argentina get to the final.

World's End owner Cam Keogh said people started taking their seats at the bar at 7am, although one keen fan walked in at 6.30am when staff were still setting up.

All the World Cup games had been well attended, he said.

Yesterday's game was one of the busiest yet, with the Australia v Wales game also drawing a big crowd.

"We went through 40 litres of milk for the Australia v Wales game. It's just been crazy. There was a 25-minute wait for coffee.

"It's been busier than a Saturday night All Blacks game, even for those lower games."

Yesterday's game was "wicked", the best performance so far.

"To get 60 points against France - we couldn't even do that against Georgia."