An All Black with what he claims was the Webb Ellis Cup was the undisputed star of a mock Rugby World Cup victory parade through central Dunedin yesterday.
Loose forward Adam Thomson made a special guest appearance in the "All (most) Blacks Victory Parade", waving to startled onlookers and holding the cup aloft from the back of a limousine.
"This is the actual Webb Ellis trophy ... It looks bigger on TV," he said after the parade.
Asked if he was annoyed the All Blacks did not come to Dunedin, he replied, "I can see both sides of the story.
"It would be lovely to have it here, but it is very demanding as well and guys have to get home to their families."
He was pleased to see the hundreds of people, including preschool children and placard-waving fans, who lined the streets yesterday.
"It is great to be home," he said.
Asked how it compared with the three parades in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, Thomson said the Dunedin event was in his "top three", but declined to elaborate.
The mock parade was organised by the Edge radio station, and was to feature fake All Blacks standing on the back of a decorated truck and trailer.
However, police concern over safety resulted in an empty trailer while the fake All Blacks crammed into vehicles, waving at people, many of whom were bemused by the spectacle.
Police escorted the passenger-less truck and a convoy, including Thomson, around the Octagon several times before it headed along George St towards the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Radio host Dominic Harvey said "we felt the groundswell of disappointment from Dunedin locals about missing out on the parade ... it was a little bit tongue-in-cheek but it turned out all right".
A Facebook page "We want a victory parade for the All Blacks in Dunedin" has attracted about 7000 members.
Earlier this week, the New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed it was investigating how best to celebrate winning the cup with other parts of the country.
