The gleaming symbol of transtasman rugby supremacy, the Bledisloe Cup, visited Carisbrook School yesterday.
''I've been getting teased all week about it,'' the school's head of Maori, Sam Weepers, who hails from Adelaide, Australia, groaned yesterday.
''All I've been hearing from the staff and the kids is how much the Wallabies are going to lose to the All Blacks by. But it's all been in good fun.''
After a week of ribbing, Mr Weepers did not even try to put up a fight yesterday.
''I don't think the Aussies will win, to be honest, but they'll do better than they did in the last game.
''Actually, I'm not even a big rugby fan. I'm from Adelaide, so I'm a Crows [Australian Rules] fan.''
The pupils won the right to get close to the huge silver trophy at their school yesterday by winning a haka competition.
''It's exciting, because it's the biggest cup in the world and we've won it much more than Australia,'' haka leader Noah Scott said.
''It's good to see it, because it's part of my tribe,'' Storm Harris (8) proclaimed.
''I've never seen it before. It's much bigger than I thought it would be.''
School principal Ben Sincock said the whole school, with only one exception, was excited about the visit.
''It's been brilliant having it here at the school. The kids have really been looking forward to it.
''We have a lot of All Blacks fans here.''
And Mr Sincock was not shy about offering a prediction within earshot of his Australian colleague.
''It will be 40-18 to the All Blacks. Guaranteed.''
The All Blacks play Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
