They are here. Finally.
And thousands of Samoans who gathered at the airport and in the villages between the airport and Hotel Tanoa Tusitala Hotel made sure the All Blacks knew how delighted they were that they have finally come. Kids, grown children and elderly mothers and fathers had waited for hours to get a glimpse of the All Blacks, even if it was just that of their buses.
At Faleolo, there was hardly any room to move. The fans filled the arrival area, the steps and the upper floor. There were banners of all sorts. There was a black lavalava, a Waikato Chiefs flag, All Blacks flags and a few in Manu Samoa colours.
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Once the All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw came out, the crowds cheered him and his team mates on. The biggest cheer greeted Sony Bill Williams. Both the Siva Tau and Haka were performed by the Pacific Institute of Education who are here as part of the HAKA exhibition from New Zealand.
It was an emotional homecoming for Jerome Kaino and other Samoan players in the team.
Speaking to the Samoa Observer, he said he expects the match to be ten times as loud as the fans at the airport.
Coach, Steve Hansen, said that they were looking forward to the game.
“It’s going to be awesome. It’s amazing! A pleasure for us,” he said.
He said that the team have to play well because it’s going to be an emotional occasion.
“It’s exciting isn’t it?”
But he said that they were worried about the heat.
“It’s not ideal to play rugby in the heat in black jerseys but it is what it is and we’re prepared for it and looking forward to it".
Hansen said he was overwhelmed by the welcome last night.
“It means a lot to these people and it means a lot to us. We’ve got a lot of Samoan boys in the team so were looking forward to it".
Meanwhile, prior to their arrival, John Campbell who helped make tomorrow’s match possible was introduced to the crowd by the Public Relations and Media Communications Officer of the Samoa Tourism Authority, Su’a Hesed Ieremia. Mr. Campbell was greeted with loud cheers and people who wanted to take photos with him and selfies.
Asked who he thought was going to win, he responded that it was going to be a 26 - 26 draw.
After the All Blacks had boarded their buses, they were escorted out by Police through the villages back into Apia where they are staying.
They were followed by a long queue of fans who tooted their horns and waved the flags into the early hours of this morning.
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