Record breakers: Joe Rokocoko and Tony Woodcock
The All Blacks will not be short on experience in their Tri-Nations clash with Australia on Saturday with a team of 700 combined Test caps.
A look through New Zealand caps column reveals a wealth of experience as prop Tony Woodcock, who is playing in his 66th Test this weekend, joins his former teammate Greg Somerville as the most capped prop in All Black history.
Saturday's Test will also be a significant milestone for Joe Rokocoko, who will play in his 64th Test and move ahead of All Black greats John Kirwan and Jonah Lomu as New Zealand's most capped winger of all time.
Skipper and star openside flanker Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina - who celebrates his 30th birthday on Saturday _ are the most experienced players in the side as they line up for their 86th Test appearance.
The most capped All Black of all time is former captain Sean Fitzpatrick with 92.
"We will need all our experience up against what is a very good Wallabies side," said coach Graham Henry.
"We have had a good start to the Tri-Nations with the two wins over South Africa but there is no room for complacency.
"We are playing our oldest rivals for one of our most prized trophies, the Bledisloe Cup, and both sides will come out firing."
Comments
ABenzed says...
Woodcock is the most unheralded AB prop and possibly player in recent times. Because he isnt a media "darling" and dosent talk to the media very often, people( or maybe its just the media) dont seem to mention him much during or after games......Umm, thats exactly what Props are supposed to do, head down arse up in the trenches, so as Woodcock is very good at his key jobs -he should be lauded a lot more than he has until now.
Posted 20:38 29th July 2010