Schoolkids put heat on All Blacks

All Black Liam Messam with Metuli Esera age 12 during a skills session with local kids at Marist School in Apia. Photo / Dean Purcell

The All Blacks are here and straight into their work in Apia - supervising hundreds of primary school children in a skills session in the blazing heat of the late morning.

Nepo Lualala, Charles Piutau, George Moala, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Hika Elliot, Brad Weber, Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick and Tom Taylor put the kids through their paces at the Marist Brothers Primary School in Samoa's capital. Laulala later addressed the children and teachers from 21 schools in Samoan.

The group also donated 18 boxes of rugby gear.

All Black Liam Messam with Metuli Esera age 12 during a skills session with local kids at Marist School in Apia. Photo / Dean Purcell

Children of all shapes and sizes took part with enthusiasm in front of a heavy security and police presence.

"They probably don't get many opportunities to see the All Blacks in real life so it's great to be here and put a smile on their faces," fullback Dagg said.

Charles Piutau said: "There's a lot of speedsters out there and some strong boys - some big boys for their ages too. They're probably future Manu Samoa players."

All Black Liam Messam with Metuli Esera age 12 during a skills session with local kids at Marist School in Apia. Photo / Dean Purcell

When questions inevitably turned to the heat and how the All Blacks would cope with it during tomorrow's test which kicks off at 3pm, Dagg said he was enjoying it.

Even one of the local villages made mention of it, with a sign the All Blacks might have seen on their journey from the Faleolo Airport to their resort in Apia which said: "Keep cool world champs!"

Piutau said of last night's welcome: "It was unbelievable - a lot of the boys were wowed by the reception that we had and seeing all the performances. To see the country turn out and welcome us like that was humbling."