Cape Town - The All Blacks remain rugby's hottest ticket in the international game.
According to the Stuff website, public tickets for the Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Cape Town on Saturday, October 7 were swept up in just an hour, while the Wales Rugby Union has revealed that November's Test against the New Zealanders at the 74 500-capacity Principality Stadium has also sold out already.
In South Africa there were 22 000 tickets on public sale for the Test between the resurgent Springboks and All Blacks at the 52 000-capacity Newlands stadium. They took less than 60 minutes to be snapped up by eager fans.
Now in Cardiff, Warren Gatland's latest crack at the All Blacks with his Wales side has the house-full signs out two months ahead of the November 25 clash, the final fixture on the New Zealanders' November tour.
Jamie Roberts, the 93-Test Wales centre and former Lion, said the All Blacks sellout reflected the pulling power of the international game's No 1 side.
"When the All Blacks come to town it's one of the greatest challenges in rugby ... probably the greatest challenge," Roberts said in a WRU media release.
"I've been fortunate enough to play them quite a few times. They are regarded as the best team in the world and with good reason.
"They are ruthless for 80 minutes, and the skillset of all their players is pretty special. You know you are in for the toughest game of your career. It's unlike anything you have experienced before and, mentally, it's the most challenging."
The All Blacks open their November tour with a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on November 4, followed by France in Paris on November 11, a clash against a French Selection in Lyon on November 14, Scotland in Edinburgh on November 18 and then the Welsh finale.