Police have lauded the behaviour of the dozens of rugby fans who packed central Dunedin bars yesterday morning for the All Blacks Rugby World Cup opening game against Argentina.
About 100 people gathered in The Bog for the 3.45am game, Sergeant Steve Aitken said. Another 50 were at Craft Bar.
Police officers patrolled the bars and encountered no trouble or intoxication, he said.
No drink-drivers were detected in the central city after the game.
''[The two bars] were reasonably busy but a lot of breakfasts and coffees were being sold and not a lot of beer,'' he said.
The Bog general manager Greg Wilson said the bar was ''almost filled'' with ''everyone rocking in'' about 30 minutes before kick-off.
He was surprised and pleased with the turnout to the game, considering its early kick-off.
''The street was dead, but the bar was busy,'' he said.
There were no problems as patrons had ''a quiet beer and watched the rugby'', although the tense match produced a ''few nervous faces''.
''The game was the main feature and alcohol was secondary,'' he said.
''It's only the first game, so you can't be having a bender yet.''
Craft Bar manager Phil Ellis said the atmosphere and behaviour at his bar was positive.
''We had a good time. It was a good turnout and a good tight game,'' he said.
''[The turnout] was a wee bit better than I expected for that time of night,'' he said.
''It was a great turnout - and we won.''
Very few people in the bar were drinking as most preferred breakfast and coffee.
Sgt Aitken said police had talked to staff at Ratbags and The Terrace Bar and Restaurant, which intended to open during some RWC games, but did not open yesterday.
