Rugby World Cup: Waiting, wishing, waving

Welsh players' partners and supporters Louise James, Nicole Jones, Kate Williams, Kat Mathema and Kath Brown leave the hotel. Photo / Michael Craig

It has become a ritual for fans with fast feet and time before the match - get to the hotel to wish your team well.

Last night, it was the turn of the Welsh fans to pack the lobby of SkyCity and surrounding footpaths as their team made a grand departure to Eden Park.

And then, as the team boarded its bus to Eden Park for its semifinal clash against France, those with tickets quickstepped to their seats for kickoff.

There were similar - if more restrained - scenes outside the nearby Crowne Plaza, where the French were staying.

The scenes outside team hotels have become the festive beginning for an evening of rugby.

Among the Welsh fans were wives and girlfriends of players. Kate Williams, the wife of team doctor John Williams, was enjoying a drink with friends while waiting for the their husbands and boyfriends to meet the crowds.

"They decided to make a grand exit," Williams said.

She had her cellphone ready to take snaps of her husband. Williams was joined by Nicole Jones, wife of Welsh prop Adam Rhys Jones and Louise James, who is married to fellow prop Paul James. Rounding out the quintet were Kath Brown and Kat Mathema, whose partners also work for the Welsh squad's medical team.

Williams said she flew in on Friday and was amazed by the fan turnout at the hotel. "This is something different. It's more special."

Gareth Basten, 39, and his mother Jean were among the fans lining the Welsh rugby team's route to their tightly-guarded buses, waiting over half an hour.

Gareth, who arrived here in 2006, said he was mightily impressed with the tournament.

"We drove round the entire country. Wherever you go, you see something about the World Cup."

Across the road at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Max Plazotta was waiting with face-painted France supporters for a glimpse of their team.

Plazotta arrived in New Zealand from French rugby's heartland, Toulouse, two months ago. Like the Bastens, Plazotta and his friends used the World Cup as a chance to take a road trip around both islands.

"We bought a car and travelled all around the country. New Zealand is really awesome," he said.

The hub of French fan activity was at Pastis restaurant, two blocks from the team hotel.

The excitement in Auckland was matched by massive turnouts in Britain, while the Welsh flag flew above Downing Street.

At Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, 65,000 fans flocked to cheer on their team from the other side of the world.