All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will join an exclusive group when New Zealand face Australia in the third Bledisloe Cup Test in Brisbane on 20 October.
He will become only the third player - after current captain Richie McCaw and former full-back Mils Muliana - who will represent his country in 100 Tests, something which the 33-year-old finds difficult to believe.
"It's a real privilege," Mealamu told Fairfax Media when talking about playing for the All Blacks.
"It's hard to put into words," Mealamu said.
"You never think of playing 100 games for the All Blacks. It's always about trying to be here.
"When I finish my career I'll be able to look back on it.
"It's a very elite group to be apart of. There's not many that have been able to achieve that. I've played with Richie and Mils for a long time; it's very special to join them."
The Blues captain made his debut for New Zealand in 2002 against Wales at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff and said not much has changed since that day.
"I still get those butterflies when I run out onto the field," he revealed.
"The only difference is I know what to expect. When you go into Test rugby you're sort of lost in the hype a little bit.
"Now I know how difficult it's going to be out there. It's good to be able to draw upon those experiences."
Comments
Stag says...
Kiwilad, still bitter. The guy is hated in this part of the world. Much like you guys hate QC for something that was trivial in comparison.
Posted 22:02 12th October 2012
tha_mai says...
now this is a stat I hadn't considered:
There are only four players with a 100% career record among those with ten or more Test caps.
New Zealand's Aaron Cruden is top of the list, on 16 played/16 won, ie never lost a test in his international career. Quit while he's ahead?
NZ's Corey Flynn second on 15/15 - Flynn is safe, though he's still playing he's not been favoured for ABs recently. The other two are NZ's Bill Davis (11/11 1967-70) and SA's Hannes Brewis (10/10 1949-53).
The unbeaten record is held by England's Trevor Woodman, he had a run of 17 Test wins (1999-2004) before experiencing his first setback.
There you go.
Posted 14:06 12th October 2012
KiwiLad says...
Stag, still bitter over the ODriscoll incident, or is it just bitter???
Posted 10:26 12th October 2012
sandal says...
@tha_mai
Good stuff. Thanks.
Posted 05:42 11th October 2012
powerplay says...
@ AG Yeah there might be too..but very rare i reckon, ..it would be interesting to know MAI, of the guys who have reached 100, how many were from the front row??
Front row players smash their bodies in scrums numerous times a game, but to do it for 100 tests??...you gota be crazy! or made out of steal!
Credit to Keven Mealamu, the first ever Allblack front rower to achieve 100 tests! That in itself is achievement!
Have you met the guy? Hes not a big guy, hes only 180cm tall, but has tree trunks for legs! Very humble guy!
Posted 13:24 10th October 2012
tha_mai says...
as for the other NZ hookers - both Coles and Eliot likely to be in UK end of year on different teams, both eligible for NZ Maori, Coles was in the 2010 team, so whoever misses the third AB hooker spot will most probably be the first choice hooker for NZ Maori
Posted 09:01 10th October 2012
tha_mai says...
powerplay - tha_mai the stats fan, as AG points out correctly Jason Leonard (119) is top front-rower, he's 4th all-time test appearances (behind backs Gregan, O'Driscoll, O'Gara)
other front-rowers
South Africa's hooker John Smith 9th on 111
Ireland's prop John Hayes is 14th on 107
21 players have achieved 100 test appearances.
and for Stag.
Really love your sport don't you? what a gracious attitude.
Posted 08:56 10th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@powerplay: i think they will. he's not the first: Jason Leonard
Posted 15:59 09th October 2012
tha_mai says...
sandal - Was saying I agree (100%) that Mealamu is playing his 100th next time - Barbarians matches are imo not tests, but pointing out that as far as the record books go, there are other players on those record lists who got test caps for Barbarians/Invitation XV games.
In recent years Wales has been the anomaly, the only top tier side giving test caps v Barbarians 1990, 1996, 2011 and again this year. They are entitled to, but it does change the picture a little when it comes to numbers. For example some Wales players near the top of the test appearance records: Stephen Jones, Martyn Williams (two), Gareth Thomas
My father was friends with an AB who toured in 1972-3 - they went (and I had to look this up to confirm the USA/Canada and France matches I thought it was just UK) North America, Britain, Ireland, France 27 matches and 5 tests. Amateurs of course I think they got one pound or was it dollar a day. He played 19 matches in Black but not one test. I think you had to be dead to get a replacement on the field back then!!
John Smit's 100th - did he get to keep Nonu's boot as a souvenir?
As pointed out in another post, one key to Mealamu's longevity has been Andrew Hore, and good use of subs to keep them both fit and playing. I am thinking of how rarely Fitzpatrick was subbed in comparison, though captaincy was the issue there I suppose.
Posted 14:07 09th October 2012
turboboy says...
Completely agree with sandal - NZ need to be looking at all positions with a view to bringing players through.
IMO England and SA have been guilty in the past of prolonging players careers and not bringing players through. That said if you are playing well you deserve your spot and it is up to the coach/management to bring that balance of youth and experience. I would like to see either Hore or Mealamu share game time with the third hooker not with each other. The third hooker should get maximum game time in November - same with another loosehead prop I reckon.
Posted 14:06 09th October 2012
sandal says...
@tha_mai
I don't understand your post (though almost always I enjoy and agree with them).
I don't know how old you are, but I remember when the All Blacks, like other teams, went on long tours of up to 30 matches. (God, they must have been exhausting for the players, though great fun too, and no doubt that is why rugby culture developed a blind eye to so many wrongdoings.) There were always very clear distinctions between test matches and other matches. A Barbarians game has never been a test match.
A player might have had 100 games for his country, but only 30 of them were tests.
Today, of course, non-test matches for your country are rare.
I tell you, 30 years ago the very concept of the Tri Nations / Rugby Championship would have been ridiculous. What, test matches, and no preparation? That was amateurism for you.
As for Mealamu, what impresses me is that the man has remained a test-quality player despite losing the pace and dynamism of his younger days.
I just hope the All Blacks don't get all maudlin, and consequently complacent, about his century. Remember: the 100 mark didn't do John Smit any good at Soweto in 2010; neither did the 50 do Olo Brown any good at Twickenham in 1997.
Hell, I remember Mealamu's first match.
Posted 12:00 09th October 2012
Stag says...
Hopefully he'll pull his hammer doing the haka and then he's dropped for good. Would love to see him stranded on 99.
Posted 10:20 09th October 2012
tha_mai says...
note it is his 101st match for the All Blacks - but the Twickenham match v Barbarians was not a test (take note Wales) so not counted. Agree with that, but does highlight inconsistency when considering such 'records'
Posted 07:55 09th October 2012
porridge_time says...
Very humble individual and great competitor well worthy of playing 100 tests.
Posted 03:20 09th October 2012
Ferdie says...
Pity anyone else wanting to play hooker for the ABs last ten years, Mealamu's 99th and Hore's 70th last weekend they've done a good job sharing the role.
Hika Eliot has only had a few (3?) tests though at 26 a few years left, and Dane Coles trained with AB squad but no further, as 3 go on NH tour - who will miss out?
Quentin MacDonald from Crusaders also a long-shot
Posted 00:40 09th October 2012
powerplay says...
Legend! No one else in the front row, of any team will do it again i think...
Posted 22:50 08th October 2012
melkdave says...
Dont think theres any dought he will get his 100th cap in Brisbane,wouldnt be surprised if itsa complete 2nd string NZ side,as they prepare for the aurtum tests,Of course the goal of setting a new record for consecative test wins ,will be a big spur imo.
Posted 22:49 08th October 2012