Braid's record wait
Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:12
Daniel Braid will equal Xavier Rush's record absence between All Black matches when he runs out onto ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.
Since last Braid played a Test for New Zealand 57 Tests have passed. The last Test he played was against Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Rush also had a hiatus of 57 Tests in his a-career. He made his debut against Australia in 1998 and then played his next Test against England in 2004.
According to NZPA, Braid said his smiling team-mates from Auckland were this week calling him Xavier to acknowledge the achievement.
Two other Aucklanders also had long lay-offs - Troy Flavell who missed 51 tests between 2001 and 2006 and Mark Carter was absent for 46 between 1991 and 1997.
Brad Thorn's absence during 48 Tests is understandable as he wandered back to rugby league after the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Mark Cooksley has a greater test gap than them all, missing 67 between 1994 and 2001, but he played several midweek matches during that period.
Greg Cooper missed 41 Tests between 1986 and 1992.
In terms of time, every All Black is eclipsed by Southland hooker Ned Hughes, who wasn't sighted in a test for more than 13 years -- a period that spanned World War One.
He played against the British Lions at Carisbrook in 1908 and was picked to return at that ground against South Africa in 1921 at the age of 40, making him the oldest player in All Blacks history.
NZPA
