A few last-minute autographs at Auckland Airport and the All Blacks are off to England for the Rugby World Cup.
Fans waiting for the All Blacks at Auckland Airport. Photo: rnz/Matt Chatterton
Hundreds of children, parents and grandparents turned out at the international check-in terminal to farewell the All Blacks, some waiting over an hour to catch one last glimpse of the side before their quest to win the Webb Ellis Trophy on foreign soil for the first time.
The All Blacks have spent the last two weeks training all over the country following the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup in preparation of the World Cup in England.
It was a quick dash for the All Blacks to check in, the squad only got to spend a couple of minutes signing autographs as they prepared to board their flight to London.
One signature that was missing from the list of All Blacks at the airport was Ma'a Nonu, after the second-five eighth came down with an unknown illness. Nonu will fly out to England on Friday.
The All Blacks' first match is against Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London next Saturday, followed by Namibia just four days later.