Richie McCaw after training in Paris in the new shirts. Ross Land / Getty Images
It was enough to make a grown All Black blush.
All 32 of them in fact, who emerged after training in Paris today wearing pink jerseys -- with a sheepish Jerry Collins bringing up the rear.
It was a promotional event that sat well with apparel sponsors Adidas
as well as giant French club Stade Francais, who hosted training overnight and whose playing jersey is bright pink.
The All Blacks players each wore a "maillot Rose" for a commemorative photograph taken with players from the Stade Francais squad at their training ground in St Cloud, south-west Paris.
It was pure theatre as players with teak-tough reputations such as lock Keith Robinson and, eventually, flanker Collins filed slowly back onto the field after what seemed an eternity to get changed.
They were greeted with a round of applause from Stade Francais players, the most recognisable being former Brumbies lock Radike Samo who picked out cousin and All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko -- the pair laughing as they compared outfits.
Insiders said there were "admiring noises" in the changing room when lock James Ryan donned his jersey, with teammates suggesting it coordinated well with his ginger hair.
Stade Francais vice-captain Mathieu Blin agreed the All Blacks looked the part.
"Oui, like us," he said.
The club's eccentric owner Max Guazzini introduced the jerseys as part of his desire to "build a club for the people of Paris".
Their popularity has soared. In March, a crowd of 79,500 watched their home game against Biarritz at Stade de France, believed to be a world record for a club game.
By the time the All Blacks arrived back at their inner city hotel it was notable that more than half of the players had changed back to team issue tracksuits, although a healthy number still felt comfortable in their new kit.
It is up to each player to decide what they'll do with their new jerseys.
- NZPA
