Slide: Fans at Rugby World Cup final match

Updated:2011-10-23 16:16

(chinadaily.com.cn)

An army in black of all ages and backgrounds invaded the Auckland waterfront on Saturday at the start of a mass celebration they hope will culminate in an overdue rugby World Cup triumph for New Zealand.

A Pacific islands nation, which has endured five fruitless tournaments since the All Blacks won the inaugural 1987 tournament, is in the mood to party after staging a spectacularly successful tournament.