Bledisloe victory tastes so sweet for All Blacks
NZPA
September 14, 2008

Stephen Donald spilled beer all down the front of his All Blacks rugby jersey while veteran Greg Somerville savoured his final, sweetest victory drink from the Bledisloe Cup. Even coach Graham Henry tilted the cup to his lips...

Everyone was so eager for a piece of the action they never got to test former Wallaby Tim Horan's midweek assertion it took 38-1/2 cans of Queensland' finest XXXX beer to fill it.

From relative new boy Donald to most-capped All Blacks prop, Somerville, who played his 65th and most likely final test in last night's 28-24 win, the traditional celebration won't be fading fast from the memory. Even if it might seem a bit hazy today.

"I've got to make the most of it. It's tasting as good as the first time I had a go," Somerville said.

"You've got to savour it, it's a pretty good trophy to win. It's probably been the favourite part of my career, just a great experience to be involved in the Bledisloe."

It was the fifth consecutive year the All Blacks had defended the Bledisloe, beating the four defences of the Wallabies from 1999-2002 and the All Blacks from 1988-91. It's second only to the record 11 defences of the All Blacks between 1952 and 1978.

So how much liquid can Lord Bledisloe's treasured gift contain?

"Everyone gets a bit excited and you never get to fill it up. It's pretty hard to drink out of because it's so big," Somerville said.

"Everyone has a go at it, everyone's pretty keen to get their hands on the handles and tip it up but it's pretty messy. It sort of goes everywhere, but it tastes pretty good."

Donald, who played a key role off the bench alongside Daniel Carter in the All Blacks' storming final half-hour, was very much the wide-eyed newbie.

He faced the media with a digital camera slung around his neck, disbelieving he had the chance to experience such a high in the Suncorp Stadium sheds.

"There's a bit of spillage on the jersey at the moment," he said.

"I had a slurp out of the Bledisloe. There's a bit of a dent in there and it makes pouring a bit difficult, but I'm sure the boys will have a few more sips out of it."

The All Blacks' antics at the fulltime whistle showed how much the result meant. Players embraced their teammates and punched the air, then after captain Richie McCaw and Rodney So'oialo hoisted the cups aloft they embarked on a victory lap as the huge Kiwi contingent roared.

"You can see it in the coaches' eyes and in the senior pros eyes just how rapt they are and what it means to get their hands on the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations again," Donald said.

"It really comes home when you see guys like Millsy (Muliaina) and Rodney and Richie, just how rapt they are. The coaches are over the moon so it brings home what it all means."

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