Christchurch pubs feeling the Bledisloe buzz

Christchurch sports bars are expecting large crowds to pile in to watch this weekend’s highly anticipated rugby test match.

The All Blacks face Australia in a mustwin game in Auckland today to retain the Bledisloe Cup, after being thrashed in the first match in Perth last week.

It is shaping as one of New Zealand’s most crucial test matches since the 2015 Rugby World Cup final.

The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe trophy for the past 17 years.

Speight’s Ale House Bealey owner Steve Grieve said he was anticipating a ‘‘big day’’, with about 200 people likely to turn up to watch the test.

The bar’s restaurant had was also fully booked as of Friday afternoon.

‘‘We’re going to be chock-a-block. The restaurant is already fully booked and the bar will be first in first served, come in and fill your boots,’’ Grieve said.

‘‘All the flags are up and we just need the boys to focus at the task at hand.’’

A couple of extra bar and kitchen staff had been called in to handle the large crowd expected.

The Fitz manager Dean Baldwin said he was anticipating the Fitzgerald Ave bar to be slightly fuller than usual with rugby supporters.

‘‘I think there is a bit more interest given the fact that the score from the previous week, the Bledisloe cup is on the line and the All Blacks haven’t lost at Eden Park in 25 years … so I’d expect a good turnout for sure.’’

Although no extra staff were being brought in tonight, Baldwin expected they would be quite busy ‘‘pouring some extra beers’’.