All Blacks in G8 summit

Daniel Carter, Paul Gascoigne (formerly known as G8) and Anton Oliver get together in London. Ross Land / Getty Images

The two greatest footballers of their respective codes and generations met in a London hotel last week in rather surreal circumstances.

Paul Gascoigne, the flawed genius who became famous for crying a river at the 1990 World Cup, was waiting to check into his room at the Kensington Garden Hotel. As he relaxed in the lobby, he was recognised by some of the assembled media who were gathered to interview the All Blacks. Would he mind posing for a picture alongside Mils Muliaina?

He'd be delighted as he could tell the All Black fullback how he was once invited to kick goals at a charity rugby match in Newcastle.

The pair chatted for a bit before Gascoigne resumed his inquiries as to when his room might become available. It would be a while yet.

He slumped back on to his sofa where he only had a couple of minutes peace before Anton Oliver was presented. The pair, it seemed, were long-lost pals, such was the ease with which they drifted into conversation. Gascoigne was only too pleased to bring Oliver up to speed with what has been going on with his life these past few years.

He glossed over the fact he briefly changed his name to G8 before re-engaging with reality, preferring instead to talk about his plans to conquer the football world with Kettering Town. He's put some of his own cash into the club and loves being a manager, he told Oliver.

Then he moved on to tell the All Black hooker about the neck injury he suffered while practising for the British version of Strictly Come Dancing. He somehow managed to damage a disc in his neck that was repaired by taking a bone graft from his hip. Oliver, no stranger to injury, was a well of sympathy.

But it was the next visitor to Gascoigne's court that brought the photographers rushing over. Daniel Carter, the king of cool, could barely contain his excitement at meeting the man who so often played as if the ball was glued to his boot. He jumped into Oliver's vacated seat and blurted out that he was a major fan and loved Gazza's work.

Things roared on from there. Gazza wanted to know if Carter was nervous about the big game at the weekend. That was one of the big hates for the football man - the wait between games.

There was more small talk and pictures taken. And why not?

What a sight. Carter, the hottest property in rugby, was awestruck to be in the presence of the man who was once the hottest property in football. When Carter took his leave he was asked if meeting Gazza was the highlight of his tour so far. "I would say so," was the reply.

Carter sloped upstairs, the lobby cleared and Gazza's room was finally ready. Normality had returned but, for the few who witnessed the events of the last 20 minutes, there was a silent acknowledgment they had been afforded an insight into the life of an All Black.

Theirs is a world of opportunity where the silver fern gains them access to everyone from the Queen to football legends. It's a world even the superstars of the team never forget they are privileged to be part of.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY