Thorne: 'Prefect way to finish'
Sun, 01 Jun 2008 09:55
Crusaders veteran Reuben Thorne says he would have liked more time on the field in his final match but in the end he was content to let the new breed run the show.
Thorne came on in the dying stages to claim his 129th Super Rugby cap in the Crusaders' 20-12 Super 14 final win over the Waratahs in Christchurch on Saturday. It was the Crusaders' seventh title.
Unbelievably it means he has appeared in all nine finals for the Crusaders. He will now take up the game in Japan.
He has had a remarkable rugby career in New Zealand, winning seven Super Rugby titles and also captaining the All Blacks.
"It's great....the perfect way to finish really," he told Sky Sports after the match.
"I would have liked to have been out there a bit longer but for the boys to go through (the match) like they did and play the way they did...we've had such a good year...I couldn't ask for anything more really".
In 2008, Thorne has largely played second fiddle to the younger flank Kieran Reid.
"Back whenever I started I never thought I would have seven of them [finals]," said Thorne.
"To have played in nine finals has been fantastic.
"It has been a special place and I'm going to miss it, but what a way to go out".
Thorne said the way the Crusaders played in Saturday's final brought back memories of the 2000 title win over the Brumbies in Canberra.
"We never stopped believing in what we were doing, even when they got away on us at the start. We pegged it back and we just believed we could win.
"I can now move on knowing that I have left something special behind," Thorne said.
