News

Kahui living his All Black dream

August 13 2008

It's every New Zealand boy's dream as they grow up: to become an All Black. Richard Kahui, in his first season of Test rugby, is finally living that dream and loving every minute of it.

As he walks into the press room at the team hotel in Cape Town you can clearly see Kahui is a quiet and reserved type, choosing to slink quietly to a corner where he can avoid the microphone-carrying masses. Luckily for him Dan Carter wasn't too far behind and the coast was clear for him to walk around with relatively little attention.

Stood talking to one of the youngest current All Blacks - Kahui is just 23-years-old - one gets the impression that despite his standing in rugby there is still an excited little boy bursting to get out. Yet to become overly cautious of the press, he is eager to answer all questions, reminding everyone at just how special the last nine months have been for him.

"It's been awesome obviously," a grinning Kahui told Planet Rugby in an exclusive interview.

"It's not very often you get to live your dream or do something you have chased your whole life, so just to be here is awesome. To play alongside players I was looking up to two or three years ago is a great honour, and just to be part of a massive legacy and the traditions that go along with the All Blacks is fantastic."

Clearly Kahui, a qualified builder, is a player making the most of being involved with a team steeped in such a rich history, although he is not the first family member to don the famous All Black jersey - his mother's cousin, Kent Lambert, played for the All Blacks back in the 1970s.

From a young age he was involved in sport, but not until he was fifteen did he set his sights on becoming an All Black. Eight years later and that dream is a reality, not that it has sunk in yet for Kahui.

"Well it's (being an All Black) certainly a goal every year, but some years it is just more realistic than others," Kahui said.

"I think this year I wasn't sure what was going to happen with the season ahead with an injury, but the coaches have seen past that and saw it as a time to give me an opportunity. The challenge for me now is to repay the faith put in me by the coaches by playing some good rugby."

Despite winning a call into the All Black squad at the start of the international season Kahui had to remain patient, sitting out the first two Tests before finally making his bow against England in Christchurch. Having bided his time the former Te Rapa Club player made an instant impact, scoring a try on debut to complete a memorable week.

"I don't know if frustrating is the right word, but I really wanted to get out there," Kahui said as another broad smile broke out across his face.

"They (the coaches) put me through my paces a bit at training and I guess that was them just ensuring I had done my dues before donning the jersey."

As for scoring the first try of the game, a game that New Zealand went on to win 44-12, there was no hiding his joy as he became animated at the mere mention of it.

"It was awesome hey," he beamed as if reminiscing with one of his team-mates, as again the excitement poured out of him.

"Just the whole week leading up to that game was outstanding. Knowing I was actually going to play my first Test was a special feeling. That whole week was special for me, the preparation, the support and then to turn up on the Saturday and put the jersey on was something I will never ever forget."

More senior players may have had a gripe or two at being played out of position, but not Kahui - he is just happy to be there. Having made his debut at centre, his preferred position, Kahui found himself on the wing last time out against Australia. And having made such an impression he has been retained in the fourteen jersey for Saturday's vital Tri-Nations clash against South Africa.

"I'm happy playing anywhere for the All Blacks, I'd play hooker if I had too," he joked.

"I'm comfortable on the wing. Obviously centre is my first choice position but I will play wing, or full-back too if they need me. The challenge I face is making the team on a regular basis and nailing down one position."

Not only that but he faces a stern challenge this weekend; facing up to Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen is right up there in world rugby as far as testing missions go.

Rather than preoccupying himself with the opposition, and running the risk of forgetting his own lines, Kahui is just happy to focus on what he needs to do.

"Obviously they're (Habana and Pietersen) two very quick and prolific wingers," he said.

"But from my point of view the skill set required on the wing is no different to playing thirteen, apart from there is a little more defensive kicking to do.

"There are just a few little things I have to be aware of, like positional play for kicking, but I am more than comfortable with that so we will just see what happens on Saturday."

With New Zealand in something of a rebuilding phase, by their own admission, Kahui, also known as 'Flapper' to his team-mates, is one of the new breed coming through. Far from taking his place for granted, or thinking he has earned all the respect he needs, Kahui is keeping his feet firmly on the ground. Further to that he was quick to sing the praises of captain Richie McCaw, a player who helped him settle into the squad from the off.

"He is someone who has huge respect within the team," Kahui added.

"No question he is one of the genuine leaders, and always leads by example for the rest of the boys to follow.

"The week leading up to my debut he was always talking to me and making sure I was as settled as I could be. It's great to have someone like that to help you settle into the way of the All Blacks, he is a tremendous asset to us as individuals and as a team.

"In terms of his leadership he is second to none, and as you saw when he came back against the Aussies he makes a huge difference in just giving the side some extra guidance. But we have other guys like Mils (Muliaina), Rodney (So'oialo) and Kev (Mealamu) who are all leaders and have good leadership skills. It's good for us young guys to get in with them and have them leading the charge."

As is the way of modern rugby you can never predict how long your time at the top will last, and Kahui is certainly enjoying it whilst he can. Although there is every chance he will be around to enjoy it for a long time yet and eventually be there leading the charge himself.

By Marcus Leach in Cape Town