Mt Albert Grammar rugby player Manu Ene (left) and All Black Keven Mealamu. Photo / Greg Bowker
Mt Albert Grammar rugby player Manu Ene (left) and All Black Keven Mealamu. Photo / Greg Bowker
KEY POINTS:
Mt Albert Grammar School's 1st XV got the ultimate warm-up for their big final this afternoon, when the All Blacks turned up for a game of touch yesterday.
Mt Albert play in the Auckland secondary schools final against De La Salle at Eden Park, and going by sizeit was tricky picking the school boys from the All Blacks.
MAGS No 8 Manu Ene said he learned some skills from All Black Sione Lauaki that he plans to put into practice.
At 1.9m and 113kg, Manu is the same height as All Black No 8 Rodney So'oialo, and 6kg heavier.
His blindside flanker team-mate Daniel Faleafa is 2m tall and weighs only 9kg less than Jerry Collins.
Daniel joked that he told All Blacks coach Graham Henry to wait for another two years before calling him. He said if the All Blacks went in for a little bit more reconditioning, then maybe they would be as big as the Mt Albert Grammar boys.
Manu and Daniel said the opportunity to mix it with their heroes was invaluable.
School coach Charlie McAlister - father of All Black Luke - said the MAGS team and the All Blacks both benefited from the training run.
"It shows that the comments you hear, that they [the ABs] are untouchable and that you can't get near them, are not true."
McAlister said his 1st XV boys were up to the training session.
"It works both ways, and they are comfortable with each other. They [the All Blacks] are young fellas and not much older than the kids here."
