Mealamu set to notch up a ton of tests for ABS
KEVEN MEALAMU will join one of the most exclusive of clubs in Brisbane this week when he’ll become just the third person to play 100 tests for the All Blacks.
He’ll join Mils Muliaina and Richie McCaw in the 100 club and as he prepares for that monumental test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday he says he’s spent time thinking back to his very first test, against Wales in 2002 at the Millennium Stadium.
Mealamu was part of a raw squad that John Mitchell took away for the end-of-year tour. He left behind many of his senior players, who were mostly from the Crusaders, and selected a squad of players that would eventually form the backbone of the team for a decade. ‘‘The first game of the tour was a loss to England, the second was a draw to France and [Wales] was the first test I got to start,’’ Mealamu said.
‘‘It was an amazing feeling and I remember every minute of it. But I couldn’t get capped because I got concussed in the game and I had to go straight back to the hotel.
‘‘ It was an awesome place to play a first test and there were a few other players who got their first cap in that test, Rodney So’oialo, Paul Steinmetz, Regan King, Daniel Braid and Tony Woodcock
‘‘It doesn’t seem like that long ago. I know there are a lot of tests that have gone under the bridge but I remember that time vividly.’’
Turning to next Saturday, the 33- year- old says it will be an occasion he’ll never forget.
‘‘ Getting the job done is the most important thing and to be able to enjoy it later in life,’’ were Mealamu’s hopes of the night.
‘‘It is obviously going to be a huge moment in my life, but the first thing is to get the job done and then hopefully we can enjoy it from there.‘‘
McCaw will be playing alongside Mealamu on Saturday; Muliaina will be in Japan but no doubt will send him a congratulatory message. ‘‘I keep in touch with Mils. It’s one of those things where you don’t talk about it until the guy has actually made it, to not put any jinx on it,’’ he said.
While Muliaina isn’t a teammate of Mealamu at the moment, there is a possibility he will be again, if the former Chiefs captain takes up the offer to return to the Blues next season.
‘‘I have been trying to persuade him,’’ Mealamu said. ‘‘At the end of the day it would be his decision but it would be awesome to have him back, with his leadership.’’
Winning the World Cup last year was clearly a superb result for the All Blacks, but Mealamu said losing to the Wallabies 25-20 in Brisbane in their final hit-out before the tournament bugged him.
‘‘It is something that stands out for me and I am still bitter about it,’’ he said. ‘‘The World Cup was awesome but I still remember that game, how they played and really turned up the heat.
‘‘It will be the same thing again and we wouldn’t expect anything less. We will be well prepared.’’
Meanwhile, Blues coach Sir John Kirwan says he expects to find out tomorrow whether Ma’a Nonu will be with him next year.
‘‘There is no news and it’s going to be Monday now because I think they are doing some stuff over the weekend,‘‘ Kirwan said. ‘‘I am preparing for both scenarios.’’