Wales RWC fans’ celebrations kept New Zealand players awake claims Sam …

RWC 2015: All the latest news and more from the Rugby World Cup
Wales defeated England 28-25 in dramatic Rugby World Cup match
Wales fans partied into night following famous Twickenham victory
But New Zealand, based in Cardiff, were kept awake by celebration noise
All Blacks trained at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Sunday
They face Georgia in next group match on Friday at Millennium Stadium
READ: Wales’ Rugby World Cup win comes at a cost as Warren Gatland loses Scott Williams, Hallam Amos and Liam Williams

Nik Simon for MailOnline

Published:
08:47 EST, 27 September 2015

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Updated:
09:29 EST, 27 September 2015

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All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock revealed his team-mates were kept awake by the celebrations in Cardiff after Wales’ victory over England.

Welsh supporters partied late into the night after their 28-25 victory at Twickenham, meaning New Zealand players did not have a quiet night at their hotel in Cardiff city-centre.

The world champions arrived in Wales on Saturday, but revealed most of the party-goers had gone home by the time they departed for training on Sunday morning.

New Zealand’s fly-half Dan Carter (right) performs stretches during training on Sunday in Cardiff

Tony Woodcock (left) and Wyatt Crockett of the All Blacks go head-to-head during a training drill

Kieran Read of the All Blacks clears the ball during line-out practice for the world champions

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Jubilant Wales fans are said to have kept up the New Zealand players with their late-night celebrations

The Wales fans celebrate as they watch their side beat England on a giant screen at a fanzone in Cardiff

Rodwy Wales fans are said to have kept up the New Zealand players with their Saturday night celebrations

‘I don’t think the guys got a lot of sleep,’ said Whitelock. ‘I managed to sleep through it, but you could really hear the supporters enjoying the night. It was awesome. Cardiff’s always rugby mad. Before the game, everyone was out in their tops.’

It was a famous victory for Wales, who held on with a depleted team after Red Rose captain Chris Robshaw turned down the opportunity to kick a penalty and earn a draw.

England instead opted for a driving line-out, but failed to convert the territory into a try as Wales No 10 Dan Biggar kicked the ball out, moving his side to the top of Pool A.

New Zealand’s flanker and captain Richie McCaw (left), scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow (centre) and lock Luke Romano were preparing for the All Blacks’ second group game against Georgia on Friday

New Zealand players work on their scrum during training at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen looks on during the training session on Sunday

‘It just shows that you have to play well for 80 plus minutes,’ said Whitelock. ‘You have to make sure you have systems in place, whether you’re up our down on the scoreboard.’

New Zealand face Georgia at the Millennium Stadium in their Pool C encounter on Friday night, with Whitelock revealing it is one of his favourite stadiums on the world circuit.

‘It’s awesome having a roof over your head,’ said Whitelock. ‘The noise echoes around and it has a really cool atmosphere. Some of my team-mates enjoy a dry ball for running rugby. Every stadium around the world has it’s own little vibe and this one is awesome.’