Shaking to a big green World Cup roar

Irish fans were ecstatic at the upset win. Photo / Doug Sherring

Irish fans were still in party mode the day after Ireland's historic victory over Australia.

The 15-6 win at Eden Park - the upset of the tournament so far - led many buoyant supporters to celebrate at bars across downtown Auckland.

The atmosphere at O'Hagan's pub yesterday afternoon at the Viaduct Harbour felt like the final whistle had just gone at Eden Park. Irish supporters - many surviving on little or no sleep - carried on where they left off on Saturday night.

Peter Curtin, 27, from Dublin, couldn't be prouder of the way the team played. "It's just a fantastic win. They played their hearts out and did us proud," he said.

"Everybody's in the spirit for a party." Well-known Irish songs Fields of Athenry and Molly Malone were sung in full volume by the fans after the game, he said.

His friend, Enda Daley, 27, also travelled from Dublin for the tournament. "It's fantastic. The Kiwis have been supporting the Irish all the way."

Both were part of the 58,678 crowd at Eden Park on Saturday night and said the atmosphere in downtown Auckland was amazing, particularly at the traditional Irish pubs.

"We've come down here and bumped into people we haven't seen for years. Friends of friends and guys you work with. It's really friendly," Mr Daley said.

Both men are attending every Ireland game during the cup, with a confident Mr Curtin claiming the Webb Ellis Cup was in the team's sights: "We're here till we win."

The roar that was still echoing around Auckland yesterday morning came from the deepest wells of Emerald Isle fervour.

"The result was amazing," said Martin McEvilly, who is in New Zealand for the cup with his brother Noel and friend Colin Tuke. "It's one of Ireland's greatest achievements - certainly in rugby."

While Ireland's appetite for rugby success has been rewarded in the Northern Hemisphere, Saturday night marked their greatest success in a World Cup and their biggest victory on New Zealand soil.

"We're very passionate fans. In most sports, we'll give it our all and we'll cheer our team anywhere against anyone - but when the result goes your way ... well, that's special."

So where does the extra spark in an Irish crowd come from?

"I guess we just love to cheer," says Mr McEvilly, a Galway native. "Of course, we get louder if the win is on."

And as they sensed victory's wind in their sails on Saturday, they became more manic. A Mexican wave - the expressive backstop of your standard, dimly interested Eden Park crowd - got no traction on Saturday.

Of course, as Eden Park spilled out, not all the spectators were happy.

Wallaby fan Nick Brookes and a friend flew over for a four-day visit, the intended highlight of which was to be a masterclass of footy against Ireland.

They were less than impressed with Kiwi referee Bryce Lawrence.

"Call the police. We've been robbed."