Sam Cane and Dan Carter celebrate the win over South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final at Twickenham Stadium. Wellingtonians got up early to watch the victory, but were well-behaved.

Well done, Wellington.

It may have been 4am on a Sunday morning, but rugby fans were well-behaved as they watched a nail-biter semi-final between the All Blacks and South Africa in the capital.

Despite bars being warned about a police 'sting' operation, sending underage actors in to test them on checking identification, Wellington establishments passed.

Police said it felt like a regular Saturday for them, while Hospitality Association spokesman Jeremy Smith said he hadn't heard of any bars failing.

A number of venues were open all night, thanks to laws rushed through parliament under urgency extending licences past 3am for the Rugby World Cup.

However, with the match scheduled mid-Labour weekend, you'd be forgiven for saying the city seemed a little less pumping than usual.

St Johns bar, on the Wellington waterfront, had about 60 punters in to watch New Zealand slip past South Africa to the final.

Duty manager Gemma Palmer said it was still the busiest match they'd screened, and the final would be even bigger.

"I think the final is going to be huge, 5am is going to be a good time for the game."

She said most of the people in the bar had stayed through the night, but only a few had to be turned away drunk.

"Police were around heaps," she said.

JJ Murphys, on Cuba St, also had a busy morning, duty manager Jon Tebbs said.

"Town was pretty quiet but we were packed for the game," he said.

"Some people came in dressed up, who had been out for the night, others came in specially," he said.

One person with a real cause for celebration was the punter who, certain about an All Blacks win, put $25,000 on New Zealand to win through the TAB, at $1.25.

Another 330 people were also winners, having bet on Jerome Kaino to be the first try scorer of the match, against favourites Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder.

Meanwhile, Argentinians and Aussies were gearing up for a feisty semi-final on Monday morning.

Australia was still the bookie favourite for the match, but most Kiwis were putting their money on Argentina.

As of Sunday, 73 per cent of bets were on Argentina to win.

Wellington-based Argentinian Guilleamo Domber said a win for his country would be a huge step for rugby in Argentina.

He thought the underdogs of the tournament could beat the Aussies and take the cup.

"The history says no, but how the team is playing, they've made it up to here and they have nothing to lose, they'll give 110 per cent for this match."