SECRETS OF THE ALL BLACKS

Invite-only card games, game-day rituals and The Gambler. Welcome to the secret world of the All Blacks. As anticipation grows before the British and Irish Lions tour, spent time with our rugby heroes and found out some of the inside workings of our men i

When the All Blacks win a test match, only one song can be played as the team leaves the ground and arrives at the hotel.

That song is Rogers.

Word has it Sir Graham Henry first espoused the virtues of this classic to celebrate victory. In Ted’s words, he wanted a song for all generations, a true classic singalong.

What makes this part of modern All Black folklore all the more interesting is the boys in charge of the “bus music”, which includes Damian McKenzie, must ensure the timing of the song and the arrival of the bus is bang on.

So if they are approaching the team hotel and The Gambler by Kenny Gambler has not reached its closing chords, the bus driver is instructed to slow down. There can be no mistakes. Compare that to the bus ride to the ground. Dead silence, no talking, game faces on. As one All Black described it to me, “it’s like heading to a funeral”. The bus ride is not like a school trip with the race to the back seat. That has always remained the domain of the leadership group and management sits up front. But here’s where it gets really interesting. Seats are assigned to a player by the number of caps played. But what happens if you take a seat up front and a lessexperienced All Black arrives on board and needs to sit in front of you? This can be really awkward for so-called “inbetweeners” and a huge source of amusement to the elder statesmen whose seats are assured and who must decide where the newbies are assigned. Musical chairs at its funniest.

On to the pre-match rituals of individual players.

Always shy farmer from the deep south Liam Squire has his own must-do for music on game day. He has one heavy metal song only on which he pushes play as the bus starts and makes its journey to the venue.

On to TJ Perenara. Not only is Thomas — yes TJ does have a first name — freakishly clean and tidy in his hotel room, he’s also a stickler for how he fronts up in All Black gear.

You might be aware every player’s initials are sewn into their clothing, to make washing day bearable.

But when it comes to his socks, TJ cannot play in two bearing the letter L, or two with Rs on them.

Quite simply, TJ must have one left sock and one right, otherwise outright panic sets in.

If Thomas could swap places with any All Black, past or present, his choice would be Beauden Barrett.