Randell faces bullet-catcher
June 22, 2001

Taine Randell beat one of the fastest openside flankers in Test rugby - George Smith - to the ball and breakdowns several times in the New Zealand Maori-Australia clash in Sydney recently.

He will take much encouragement and inspiration from that performance into Saturday's Test against Argentina.

After 40 Tests at No 6 and 8, the former All Blacks captain will try to resuscitate his international career from No 7 at Jade Stadium.

But this time he has to be faster than a man who literally caught a bullet in his hand to save himself. Argentina's openside flanker on Saturday is Rolando Martin, whose speed saved his life in December.

He blocked his chest with his arm as a gun was fired at him by a teenage car thief. The bullet hit his hand.

The teenager was trying to steal Martin's car outside his home in the north of Buenos Aires when Martin tackled him.

The thief ran off after Martin challenged him. The Pumas flanker tried to pounce but was shot. He managed to protect his chest.

``I wouldn't do the same again, my mistake was trying to catch him,'' he said. The American-born Martin, 31, has played 63 matches for Argentina. - Sapa-NZPA

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