THE ALL Blacks donned all white at their training in Carisbrook as a show of support for their footballing compatriots, albeit with plugs for adidas as well as their adopted charities in what was one of their choreographed, politically correct PR stunts.

All the television and radio bulletins, and pretty much all the newspapers, led their sports coverage with the build-up to New Zealand’s meeting with Paraguay in Rustenburg, kick-off 11pm local time. For once, the All Blacks would have to take play second fiddle, if only for a Wednesday night.

The night before, in Rotorua, some of the Irish team management and media pack had ended up in Hennessy’s bar in Tutanekai Street – not unreasonably given the huge banner draped on the outside wall proclaiming: “Home of the 2010 World Cup”.

So, it was agreed, Hennessy’s would be the meeting point for the All Whites’ first game in a World Cup since 1982. Cue 10.45pm and Hennessy’s doors were locked closed. The lights were on but, literally, there was nobody home. Not a sinner in sight. No fans. No owner. No barman. No drink. No match. In Rotarua’s “Home of the 2010 World Cup”. No kidding.

Rotarua, which will stage the match against Ireland which is part of the New Zealand Maoris rugby team’s centenary celebrations, is not a hive of activity in midweek. Undoubtedly things would have been different in Auckland or Wellington, say.

Ten minutes before kick-off, up the road in the Pig and Whistle, you could order a pint but you’d have to finish it in five minutes. They recommended the Lava Bar, a couple of blocks away.

There a youngish, student-type bar had about 60 people inside. The Wednesday night band, Kylee, were playing, and when it was announced they were playing one more song before the volume was turned up from the two screens for the World Cup, there was an audible groan.

Not that you could hear a word of the commentary through the hive of bees. After the All Whites, those infernal vuvuzelas are the biggest topic of conversation. "Stop the Racket" pleaded the headline adjacent the masthead of the New Zealand Herald.

The matches, which kick-off at 11pm, 2.30am and 6.30am, have become a blur of sound as well as noise.

When Shane Smeltz hit the side-netting after 37 minutes, a few men groaned loudly, but between the pool table, chatting and covered outdoor decking for smokers, most weren’t paying much attention. The MC turned on the music to drown out any interval analysis, and when the second half resumed the music stayed on.

When Radek Vittel put Slovakia ahead, some moaned and the commentary was turned back on. There was even less of a reaction after Smeltz headed wide.

The All Whites’ desperate, long-ball assault would have been roared on in other parts of New Zealand, but not here. The crowd had started to dwindle.

Whereupon Winston Reid’s equaliser was greeted with roars of delight, a few half-hearted “ole, ole, oles” and then chants of “All Whites, All Whites”.

Not long after, Cian Healy took over as MC and the music was eminently preferable to those cursed vuvuzelas. Will the world wake up deaf on July 12th?

Soon after, the lights came on and the few stragglers headed off into the night.