Thorn raring to go for Tasman
All Blacks and Crusaders lock Brad Thorn admits it will feel “a bit weird” when running out to the AMI Stadium pitch in Christchurch for Tasman against his old Canterbury team-mates in their Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final on Friday.
All Blacks and Crusaders lock Brad Thorn admits it will feel “a bit weird” when running out to the AMI Stadium pitch for Tasman against his old Canterbury team-mates in their Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final on Friday.
Thorn's desire to debut for Tasman, the province he has barely set foot in, provided the first twist to the Crusaders derby in Christchurch.
Canterbury duly responded when Richie McCaw signalled his availability, the All Blacks captain heeding a virtual SOS call after Japan-bound number eight Mose Tuiali'i's domestic career was ended by a freak neck injury in Invercargill last weekend.
McCaw and Thorn form the obvious focal point of a clash that Canterbury won easily 44-15 the last time the teams met back in Round Five of the round-robin in August.
Since then, Canterbury have rumbled on to record nine consecutive victories while Tasman's board room issues were more prominent until the players came perilously close two weeks ago to making Wellington's first Ranfurly Shield reign in 26 years embarrassingly brief.
Last weekend's five-point haul against Manawatu in Palmerston North confirmed Tasman's first appearance in the play-offs, allowing Thorn to make a “weird” appearance against his “home” province.
Thorn was released by the All Black selectors to play for Tasman this week and coach Todd Blackadder was thrilled to have him after Thorn asked to play.
Until this season, Thorn had played only for Canterbury in between swapping with Rugby League in what has been one of the most remarkable careers in rugby history.
Talented, tough and durable, he has played for the All Blacks at a World Cup, won Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cups, and won NPC, the Ranfurly Shield and Super Rugby titles with Canterbury and the Crusaders. He was a Rugby League superstar, winning NRL titles with the Brisbane Broncos and represented Australia.
But Thorn saw tomorrow as “an opportunity to play some footie, play for Tasman and I'm glad I got the chance”.
“It's going to be really weird in a way, against guys like Richie (McCaw). Canterbury have been my club really since I came over in 2001. It will be a bit funny being in the opposition changing sheds,” he told The Marlborough Express.
“That's sport. That's what's great about it. You go out there and get into it for 80 and afterwards you shake hands and get on with it.
“Obviously I won't be holding anything back. I'll be making sure I get stuck in.”
Thorn will not have much time to familiarise himself with Tasman team-mates or team patterns but he knows the way coach Todd Blackadder operates from first hand experience.
He has “very fond memories” of playing under Blackadder's command when Canterbury won the NPC title in 2001.
“I'm proud to be playing for these guys (Makos). It's a good opportunity and I plan to enjoy it,” said Thorn.
Despite the off-field drama in administration which still threatens Tasman's future, Thorn said he hoped that would be sorted out and he is not surprised the team has kept it together on the field.
“It just shows you that the most important thing is the team. Having belief in each other. Playing for each other,” he said.
“You'd be amazed what you can achieve when a team plays for each other and with a belief that they can get into it.
“I imagine Toddy's (Blackadder) given them that belief and the guys are responding well and they seem a pretty tight-knit group.”
“Mainly, we want to win. This is finals footie.
“When you do pre-season and building throughout the season, slogging away; this is the end goal. It would be good to be around for another week.”