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Sunday, Sun, 15 DecemberDec 2024
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ABs win another big test

The audience reacts to the All Black antics. Photos by Peter McIntosh.
The audience reacts to the All Black antics. Photos by Peter McIntosh.
Small Blacks TV host Nua Finau takes a photo of Matthew Tebbutt (10), of Dunedin, on the stage...
Small Blacks TV host Nua Finau takes a photo of Matthew Tebbutt (10), of Dunedin, on the stage with All Blacks (from left) Ma'a Nonu, Owen Franks and Wyatt Crockett at the Dunedin Town Hall yesterday.

A selection of All Blacks were put to the test in the Dunedin Town Hall.

Fresh from training yesterday, All Black forwards Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Tony Woodcock, Brodie Retallick, Wyatt Crockett and backs Malakai Fekitoa, TJ Perenara, Ma'a Nonu, Israel Dagg and Cory Jane entertained about 200 people for an hour from 4pm.

The crowd was warmed up by Small Blacks TV host Nua Finau and Random Rugby host Makere Bradnam and an energetic dance routine from the Otago Dancers.

When the All Blacks were individually announced on arrival, the loud cheer for hometown favourite Fekitoa was only equalled by a piercing declaration of ''love you CJ'' from the audience for Jane.

The All Blacks gave answers to text-message questions, which included naming the most famous person they had met (Woodcock talked about meeting Nelson Mandela) and who was the strongest (all players agreed one of the Franks brothers).

Then members of the audience were selected to compete in a series of tests against the All Blacks.

The brawn test was a prone hold challenge between Otago Girls' High School pupil Hannah Tebbutt (13), of Dunedin, and forwards Retallick and Crockett.

The schoolgirl held the core strengthening exercise longer than the bulky players, who had the surprise handicap of being tickled by a man in the crowd.

The creativity test was fashioning a toilet paper wedding dress.

When the hosts yelled ''drop your toilet paper'' the over-the-shoulder dress made on student Fano Fesolai (18), of Dunedin, by Jane, Fekitoa and Perenara was the clear winner.

The All Blacks play England at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday and yesterday 127 tickets remained.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

 

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