One black jersey in a thousand

By WYNNE GRAY

Rugby historians may need the photofinish camera equipment from Ellerslie Racecourse tonight to judge the 1000th All Black.

Flanker Marty Holah, in the starting 15, will be the 999th to wear the famous black jersey with the silver fern - unless he suffers the misfortune of 55 players who were chosen for the All Blacks but never took the field.

The magic milestone, the 1000th, should fall to one of the three uncapped reserves - Carl Hayman, Chris Jack or Mark Ranby.

They can be called on as replacements during tonight's test against Samoa at Albany.

The trio will be on alert throughout the match in case of a temporary bloodbin substitution or an injury to one of their colleagues.

In recent years it has been a pattern for the All Black coaching staff to send several substitutes on at the same time late in a game. If that scheme is repeated it may take a video replay or some other photographic evidence to identify which player crosses the touchline first to become the 1000th All Black.

While those scenarios may be played out in the minds of the crowd or reserves during the test, the coaching staff might keep up the suspense until next week's test against Argentina.

Listed in alphabetical order, the One Thousand will begin with Harold "Bunny" Abbott and end with Francis Beresford Young, a flanker whose only game for New Zealand was against Queensland at Wellington in 1896.

If the 1000th landmark happens tonight there will be no special presentation to the player because the Rugby Union wants to honour the black jersey rather than any individuals.

There will be some promotional celebrations later in the season and special reunions of past All Blacks and councillors during the test against France in Wellington this month.

Author Ron Palenski will unveil a book this year which celebrates those who have played for New Zealand.

A New Zealand rugby side had their first match in 1884 and played their first test in 1903 against Australia but did not become known as the All Blacks until the Originals' tour in 1905.