If he weren’t an All Black, Coles would probably be a labourer, the hooker mused.
Perenara talks to All Black captain Kieran Read on a Friday night about which haka they will perform the next day.
And Barrett can remember when he was little and, along with his father, met All Black greats Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu.
Schoolchildren and adult All Black fans from the Gisborne region converged at Rugby Park yesterday to have merchandise signed and to wish the team well in pursuit of New Zealand’s third successive Rugby World Cup triumph.
A day after the 31-man world cup squad was named, the players were divided into groups and dispatched to centres in New Zealand to meet fans.
Vaughan White, YMP team manager, said the Gisborne event was a great advertisement for rugby.
“What a selection of All Blacks to have here,” he said.
Regarding their chances of winning the Rugby World Cup, White said: “Let’s be honest — we expect them to win.”
Louise Jansen, a physiotherapist, said she attended to get out among the community and “share in the atmosphere”.
Raised in Taranaki, Jansen said Taranaki-boy Barrett was a favourite for her.
Joshua Kelly, 16, a Gisborne Boys’ High School student, said he had a ball signed by Coles and Barrett and was expecting to get the signatures of the other two All Blacks as well.
“It’s a great honour to have them here,” he said.
He thought they had a high chance of claiming the Webb Ellis Cup but noted the improvement of other teams.
Jayson Matete, 17, who plays for Boys’ High’s third 15, said he was pleased to see Savea.
“He drops the hits.
“And I want to drop the hits,” Matete said.
“It’s an opportunity to see our heroes, who we look up to, and it’s good for Gisborne as well.”
Gisborne Intermediate pupil Mackenzie Wilkie, 11, was wearing a Hurricanes jersey but said he was a Hurricanes and Chiefs fan.
He is in the High School Old Boys under-13s and said Sam Cane was his favourite player, as he played in the same position, openside flanker.
Wilkie said the day was “amazing”.
With Wales ranked No.1 in the world, it was “hard to say” if the All Blacks would win.
His father, Scott Wilkie, said the event was a good promotion for rugby in the region.
He expected the All Blacks to make the final but little separated New Zealand, South Africa and England.
“You can never write off the likes of France, Ireland and Wales — even Australia, on their day, if they bring their A game.”
Former Poverty Bay rep and HSOB player Kolo Fonohema said children really looked up to the All Blacks, who worked hard to get to that level.
Hurene Kerekere, 15, said it was great to see “our superstars of New Zealand”.
“We should do it again some time.”
