All Blacks fans played a key role in their side's Rugby World Cup semi-final victory over Australia © Getty Images

Sunday's second semi-final between tournament hosts New Zealand and fierce rivals Australia was always going to be something special and not even the controversy surrounding France's victory over Wales the previous night could over-shadow the biggest game of the tournament.

Fans were out bright and early on the streets of Auckland making most of the glorious sunshine and while the players may have struggled to fill the void until the 9pm kick off, supporters were more than happy have a drink or two ease the nerves and fuel the banter with each other. That revelry carried them all the way to Eden Park either on foot via the 'Fan Trail' or by other means and so keen were some for kick off they were in their seats some two and a half hours before the first whistle.

If I wasn't aware by now that there was an extra edge to this game I need only have waited until I took my seat in the press box. Sat in front of an area reserved for wheelchair bound fans and behind the Wallabies' friends and families, my attention was grabbed by a voice behind me. I turned to see an elderly man who had pulled himself up out of his wheelchair to beckon me and having got my attention he asked several times "Are you with the Wallabies?" whilst jabbing his finger in my direction. I'm not sure he wanted an answer because before I could clarify that I was working he had flicked a 'V' sign in my direction whilst appearing to curse under his breath. Such is the passion for the sport in this country and hatred of their foes from across the ditch.

As kick off neared, the atmosphere was electric and the anthems just ratcheted things up even more. Hardened Kiwi fans had heard nothing like it before and the All Blacks fed off that energy with a startling performance of their Kapo o Panga haka. The crowd played an active role throughout the game, roaring their approval after each linebreak and every big tackle. The Eden Park factor was supposed to be the All Blacks' dominant record at the stadium - where they had not lost since 1994 and not to the Wallabies since 1986 - but clearly it now has a new dimension.

As thrilling as the crowd's input was there was a more unpleasant side to their interaction. Australia fly-half Quade Cooper was subjected to booing and venom throughout the game with fans delighting in the misfortune suffered by the Wallabies' playmaker as he struggled to find any kind of form let alone his best game. He may have invited abuse with his on-going spat with Kiwi fans' favourite Richie McCaw but the treatment of Cooper took the shine off the evening just a little.

With victory in such an important clash within sight, the crowd came into their own once again. Scrum-half Piri Weepu's fourth penalty took the game away from the Wallabies eased the nerves of supporters before a huge scrum from a dominant All Blacks pack offered a more emphatic reassurance. Veteran Brad Thorn then went from grizzled lock to cheerleader with a fist pump to the crowd bringing them to their feet - the deal was done; they were all heading to the World Cup Final.

But the crowd was not done and as the final seconds of the game ebbed away, a cry of 'four more years' echoed around the stadium. Aimed at the Wallabies and based on a famous taunt from former Wallabies captain George Gregan during his side's 2003 World Cup semi-final victory, it set the seal on the win.

At the end of an epic clash it was clear that the All Blacks were not the only ones to have raised the bar.