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Fireworks open the Rugby World Cup in Auckland - Source: ONE News -
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Prime Minister John Key is not ruling out a bid for the Commonwealth Games and says the success of the Rugby World Cup tournament has shown New Zealand can host big international events.
Sports Minister Murray McCully, who is in charge of the RWC, said the tournament was going so well that New Zealand might make a bid for the Commonwealth Games.
"We're not bidding yet - his point was that we're doing a marvellous job hosting the World Cup and we're showing the world we can host these very large events," Key said on Newstalk ZB.
"It's early days, but there are always options ... who knows what will come next?"
IRB officials have told Prime Minister John Key that this RWC is "arguably" the best tournament they've seen, he said.
"Officials have been telling me that this is arguably the best World Cup they've been to," he said.
Key was at Eden Park for the All Blacks win over France on Saturday and said the ground was in "sparkling condition".
Organisation at the Auckland waterfront and transport to and from the ground was going "a lot smoother" since a series of problems on opening night.
"Obviously, the crowds are smaller and so that helps. But in terms of public transport, the distribution of patrons on a variety of different modes of public transport has helped the problem," Key said.
About 10,000 fans walked to the game from the central city on Saturday night. A further 25,910 took public transport, including 15,210 on buses and 10,700 on trains.
"There were considerably more people on buses and more people walking so that's taken a lot of pressure off the system and frankly the rail has been better managed," Key said.
The waterfront did not have as many people crowding on to it as on opening night, but about 30,000 still visited Queen's Wharf yesterday.
That brought the Captain Cook Wharf into use for the first time since it was rushed into play by the Government last weekend.
Key said the atmosphere across the country was great.
"New Zealanders right across the country are being tremendous hosts and because New Zealand loves rugby, that's just manifested itself in a lot of New Zealanders who want to engage with the tourists that are here. Put that together with the opening ceremony, which was world class, and you can see why they feel that way."
There would always be a good-natured rivalry with Australia and a few inappropriate comments, he said.
"There are plenty of stories that New Zealanders can regale for you of them being subject to, well, if you want to be generous, good-hearted banter on the other side of the Tasman as well."
Before the tournament, organisers were hyping a final between the All Blacks and the Wallabies as the dream result for ticket sales and maximum spending from the tens of thousands of Australian fans. Since the Wallabies stumbled against Ireland last weekend and the All Blacks beat the French on Saturday, that now looks unlikely.
But Key said ticket sales were now strong enough to mean the makeup of the finalists should not be a concern.
"We can see from games that don't have either Australia or New Zealand in it, there is still huge patronage there," Key said.
"I think the reality is that people are going to turn up for the quarters, semis and finals irrelevant of who's playing."
Key will be in Australia for the next All Blacks clash to support the Warriors in their NRL finals match with Manly.
RWC buzzing in New Plymouth
The Rugby World Cup tournament is benefiting the regions and has had a positive economic impact on New Plymouth, according to a Rugby World Cup manager.
Jenny Mills told TV ONE's Breakfast that campgrounds have noted a significant growth as a result of the tournament and even car parks have been turned in to makeshift campgrounds with campervans parking up.
"Our retailers have got behind all of our adopted second team initiative and the place looks absolutely amazing.
"Throughout the whole period from our first game to our third game the place has been really busy and buzzing."
Namibia will clash with Wales at Stadium Taranaki tonight.
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