Sir Brian welcomes Sir Colin

Sir Brian Lochore is delighted his old mate and fellow All Blacks legend Colin Meads has decided to accept his knighthood but it's not going to make much difference to the way the two knights joust.
"I certainly will call him Sir Colin the first time, because he gave me hell when I first got it, and good friends are allowed to do that, but it won't change how we normally address each other it'll still be BJ and Pinetree," Sir Brian said.
Titles were abolished in 1999 but Prime Minister John Key announced in March they would be reinstated from July for the people made principal or distinguished companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit since 2000.
Sir Colin, 72, was made a distinguished companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2000.
"I think it's fantastic he accepted the honour and I'm very pleased (the Government) brought it back, not many people would have known that the bunch of letters behind his name equated to a 'Sir' and I'm delighted that he's decided to use it in front of his name. He deserves it and so do all the other New Zealanders who have been honoured," he said.
Sir Colin played 55 tests for the All Blacks in the 1960s and 70s and was voted the player of the 20th century.
"I only ever played one test when he wasn't playing and that was when he was injured," Sir Brian said.
He said the two mates played around 25 tests together and the Masterton-born 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning coach said he shares a similar viewpoint on honourifics as his old team-mate, who doesn't want to be called Sir.
"I think of my great friends and guys who I have played under like Sir Wilson Whineray and Sir Brian Lochore ... but they were perfect gentlemen while I was a bit rougher," Sir Meads said.
"It was a harder decision that I thought. But just don't call me Sir. All my mates say they won't call me Sir, and I don't want them to."
Sir Brian reckons it's up to other people how they address him, he's happy either way yes Sir, or no Sir - it doesn't worry him.
n When the Times-Age phoned, Sir Brian hadn't fully caught up with the news that TVNZ's European correspondent Mark Crysell had shelled out ?1000 for his captains' jersey from the All Blacks' 1967 UK tour.
The jersey was sold at Sotheby's London auction house and had been a star item in the memorabilia collection of AB's luggage and kit manager Richard Walker. Sir Brian said he remembered Mr Walker and said he had done a "good job". "Those were the days when touring sides were assigned tour managers by the home union," Sir Brian said.
Mr Walker, who now lives in Kent, has been reminiscing fondly on the tour after the sale of the jersey threw him into the spotlight downunder; "One of my lasting memories of the ABs was when Colin Meads was sent off in Scotland, and to see such a player reduced to tears over the incident was very moving and spoke volumes of the great man. He always had a back massage from me prior to each match, and that was very special," he said.