Atruly world stage is worth shouting about

lucky enough to play for Canterbury and then make his international debut for the All Blacks.

‘‘The story goes that he had a hole in the front part of his leg that he used to put a little bit of wood in, he’d strap that on, which was a wound from war. And that’s how he played all his games with that piece of wood in his leg to protect it.’’

Dalzell’s All Blacks and rugby connections were many. His wife was the sister of his Canterbury and All Blacks team-mate Allan Elsom, and his his son Anthony played for Canterbury as a loose forward in the early 1980s.

One son-in-law Graeme Higginson was an All Blacks lock in the 1980s. Another son-in-law, Braeden Whitelock played for Manawatu (1979-84) and NZ Colts (1979).

All Blacks George and Sam Whitelock are his grandsons as is Luke Whitelock, who has been called into the current touring party in France as injuries hit the squad. Crusaders player Adam Whitelock completes the talented group of Dalzell’s rugby-mad grandsons.

Dalzell died in 1989 at the age of 68.

Members of the All Blacks touring party are also set to pay their respects at a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Consider what’s at stake for the All Whites and the Kiwis tomorrow. Football’s World Cup is the grandest global sports tournament on the planet. I love rugby league but its World Cup is far from the game’s pinnacle event.

New Zealand’s chances of reaching their third World Cup (after 1982 and 2010) hinge on a positive result against Peru at Westpac Stadium.

The All Whites can’t assure qualification for next year’s tournament in Russia, but they can certainly lose all hope ahead of the return leg in Peru if the White Noise are silenced in Wellington.

The odds are stacked against New Zealand when they face Peru, who No 10 in Fifa’s world rankings after matching it with South American football giants like Argentina, Colombia and Chile in qualifying.

The All Whites are ranked 122nd and haven’t beaten a non-Pacific Island nation since November 2015.

But what’s that old saying? It’s a funny old game. No sport in the world springs surprises like football and the World Cup is testament to that.

Few could have tipped that Costa Rica, a country with a similar population to New Zealand, would be a penalty shootout away from a semifinal against Argentina in Brazil three years ago – and that’s after topping the tournament’s ‘Group of Death’ featuring former world champions Uruguay, Italy and England.

Holland pooped that party, winning 4-3 on penalties, but it’s now time to get excited for New Zealand’s own football fairytale.

Panama, footballing minnows from Central America with a population smaller than New Zealand, finished above the United States to reach their first World Cup.

The yahooing Yanks won’t be attending next year’s tournament for the first time since 1986.

Neither will reigning Copa Ame´rica champions Chile, three-time finalists Holland, and reigning

African champions Cameroon.

This is it, New Zealand. Time to believe. Time to hope. Time to cheer.

Seriously, please cheer. Don’t be shy. We’re not watching the All Blacks.

An upset can happen because this is football and it’s every All White’s chance to emulate Rory Fallon’s heroic header.

And Peru, who’ve not reached the World Cup since 1982, don’t have their star striker after losing Paolo Guerrero to suspension for a doping violation.

Let’s be honest, New Zealand v Tonga has only really become interesting because of Jason Taumalolo ditching the Kiwis.

And it can’t possibly top that special night in Hamilton last Saturday when Tonga and Samoa beautifully united the two Pacific Island nations together in a sporting occasion I’ll never forget.

Wellington will turn white, hoping to replicate that famous night when New Zealand beat Bahrain 1-0 to reach the 2010 World Cup, and the All Whites need that white wall of noise again.

‘‘No sport in the world springs surprises like football and the World Cup is testament to that.’’ Joseph Pearson ‘‘It’s no secret that members of the Kiwis squad were hurt by some of their team-mates choosing to play for Tonga.’’ Christopher Reive