New Zealand's resthomes, schools, marae and rugby clubs today gave their men in black an extra push to take on the world.
Pupils at Dunedin's Tahuna Intermediate do a haka for the All Blacks. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
The All Blacks went to the nation for their last public appearances in the provinces before the Rugby World Cup.
The 31-man squad was dispatched for the day to 10 towns and cities, from Long Bay in Auckland to Mataura in Southland, as they prepare to leave for Britain next Thursday.
Kieran Reid and the two Bens - Smith and Franks - were in South Dunedin, visiting two schools and a rest-home.
All Blacks Kieran Reid, left, and Ben Smith. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Three months ago to the day the Radius Fulton resthome in South Dunedin was knee-deep in water, one of the worst-hit places in the city's floods.
Today, the residents celebrated their return with visit of some of their heroes.
Lloyd Martin who played rugby in the 1940s and is nearly blind, says the visit was the ultimate.
"I was really pleased to meet our number 8. And although I cannot see, I can see bulk and he is the bulkiest number 8 I have ever met, he's a big boy, Kieran Reid."
The trio enthusiastically chatted and posed for photos and signed things for the residents, their excited grandchilden and many of the staff for almost an hour.
Karen Lobb, whose father lives at the home, said there could not have been a better celebration.
"I think after the floods, they've been through a very hard time. It's been very disruptive.", she says.
"A lot of people have had to move out. And to bring everyone back together for a special thing like today, it's just brilliant."
All Black Ben Franks dishes up lunch to a Bayfield High School student. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Lunch was healthy chicken and salad wraps at Bayfield High School, which the players had to join in cooking.
Students Julia Gwynne Jones and Jade Fielding cooked chicken with Ben Smith.
"Being able to have normal conversations with them and hear about their lives, it's great," Jade said.
"These are people I've grown up watching and respecting, and it's just incredible they take the time to come and show us all this," Julia said.
The trio's last visit was to Tahuna Intermediate's turn.
They turned out for a full assembly, giving the men a thunderous welcome and loud haka before asking a range of searching questions including how they deal with sponsorship and if they really eat Weetbix as advertised.
Reid said it was a chance to meet meet a different fan demographic.
"We actually get something out of it ourselves, it does give you a bit of motivation and an extra something before we fly over there," he said.
