By WYNNE GRAY
The message will be slipped under Andrew Mehrtens' hotel door in Wellington this morning.
It contains best wishes from the great Grant Fox, who knows that unless things go badly wrong, Mehrtens will become the greatest points scorer in All Black test history, breaking Fox's 645 points tally.
As he goes into the All Blacks' game against the Wallabies this afternoon, Mehrtens sits on 640 points - well adrift of Neil Jenkins' world-high 984 for Wales and the Lions, but with an average 14.88 points a test, which is the best success rate of any top kicker.
With his tongue well planted in his cheek, Fox suggested Mehrtens had cheated because he had scored seven tries - all worth five points each - six more than Fox's solitary four-point test touchdown against Scotland in 1990. In points off the boot, he still had 37 to get to pass Fox.
"Technically, Andrew is very good," Fox said. "Anyone with his points production is a pivotal force in any game. He has so much influence that when he plays well the All Blacks win and when he is not so good the All Blacks have struggled or lost. He has altered his style to the changing game and I have huge admiration for that."
Mehrtens said he did not mind about his probable feat today, as long as the All Blacks won.
"I am aware of the record ... because you do take pride in your performance, but things like that you appreciate more when you've finished playing rugby."
All Blacks test programme 2000
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