Quote of the Day - 18 August 2012

This gem comes from Wynne Gray of the NZ Herald, who interviewed Keven Mealamu this week:

More than a quarter of Keven Mealamu's remarkable test rugbycareer has been in combat against the Wallabies.

It has been remarkable in so many ways.

He is heading into his 94th test tonight in Sydney, making his first All Black start this year after his Super 15 schedule was interrupted by a series of calf muscle injuries.

Say that again. Yep 94 tests, at hooker, from a bloke who spent much of his teenage years playing as a loose forward.

Mealamu bats away most of the accolades with his five-star smile and million-dollar manners.

His Christian attitudes and downright politeness stand out in these modern times of drive-by conversations and abrupt meetings.

It seems incompatible with his disposition that he shoves his melon into frenzied front row combat - until you notice his ears, or what's left of them.

They have that chewed-over fleshy look of being rubbed again and again in the cauliflowered confrontation, unseen by match officials and unknown by any except those who have buried their bonces in that area.

Ah yes; the dreaded cauliflowered ears, and the dark mysteries kept secret by those who indulge in the dark art of scrummaging! We wish Keven Mealamu all the best tonight; our third test centurion-in-waiting.