Why John Campbell will miss the Super Rugby final

John Campbell might miss the Super Rugby final - just the second time his beloved Hurricanes have made the big game.

John Campbell is suddenly a central rugby character thanks to his TV show's campaign which led to the All Blacks' historic test against Samoa in Apia on Wednesday.

There's much more to Campbell's rugby cred than that. The Wellington native remains a devoted Hurricanes fan, despite the obvious temptation an Auckland import must face to support the mighty Blues. We chat to Campbell about the Super Rugby final and other footy matters.

Were you ever tempted to support the Blues?
My best friend Tim also moved up here years ago and we had this discussion...how long is it before you start backing the team in your new city, and my children are Aucklanders. I kind of wish the Blues well...I wish more Aucklanders would go to Eden Park and I'm still in awe of those great Auckland sides, with the Hadens and Foxes. But with my history, like memories of going to Athletic Park with my dad...

Athletic Park. What a place. Did the Millard Stand frighten you?
I used to look at the rust on those metal struts and think one really good southerly gust, and we'd end up 30 metres down the road. The Cake Tin is fancy but sitting at the top of the Millard, you were still so close to the game. I like rectangular football grounds.

Wellington rugby is a place of two halves - the city and the valleys. How does this influence its teams?
I played in Wellington for over 20 years and going to the valleys, Stokes Valley in particular and Nui - Wainuiomata - you were in for a game. They breed them tough out there. I can't tell you anthropology or sociology-wise...but Wellington club rugby is tough. It's not bleeding heart liberal stuff, not book clubs in Kelburn. The conditions can be brutal. Sometimes it was so cold it felt like your fingers would break when the ball hit them.

The Hurricanes should be the Cinderella story in the final...but you've already lost that battle to the Highlanders...
Wonderful, isn't it? The Highlanders are a true Cinderella side. At the beginning of the season, you might have persuaded someone the Hurricanes were a possibility. But you would have struggled to persuade anyone the Highlanders were. Boy, they've been a great cohesive unit, inspired by Aaron Smith. It will be bloody tight.

The Hurricanes are lovable losers - will something integral to the Hurricanes' fans experience somehow be lost if they win the Super Rugby title?
You mean like virginity...once you've come of age you can't go back. I'm prepared to take the risk, prepared to see what it's like on the other side. But I'm not taking anything for granted. The Highlanders dealt to the defending champs in Sydney. I've managed the season, been really cautious. But I knew we were the genuine article beating the Chiefs in New Plymouth. In years gone by, we would lose dead rubbers as sure as the sun rises. We retained the spirit in that game, the sense of possibility, but were also the full professional package.

You will watch the final where?
I'm going to Samoa on Saturday morning with Sky and that will be a wonderful experience so I can't look that gift horse in the mouth. I've been there a lot and never noticed international satellite TV...I might have to listen to the final on the internet.

What do you think of stadium food?
Bloody awful. I don't know how stadiums can make beer such an unpleasant drink. I have been known to shove a bottle of wine down the back of my pants, to cater for myself when I go into grounds. I do worry about getting caught and now that I've told you, I'm rooted. But you go for the rugby, not the tucker.

Are you a corporate box dweller?
Never watched a game from one, never will. When I was a lad, there were no corporate boxes. If you watch a game from behind glass, you might as well stay at home and watch on telly.

Your childhood hero?
Ah...who did I want to be? I don't really remember the All Blacks...it was about Wellington, and I would also go to senior club games as a little guy. I remember this - in those days you were allowed on the field after the game, got access to these guys. A lot were club players who would never trouble the All Black selectors but played 30 or 40 games for Wellington. I remember the joy of just being on the field amongst them. I probably collected the autograph of the same player 20 times.

Has the country fallen in love with Ma'a Nonu again?
I never fell out of love with Ma'a Nonu. He is a remarkable player - not only is he gifted, but he's often the fourth loose forward. After the 2011 World Cup final, Graham Henry told me that Nonu's work rate was phenomenal. He is a big hearted player but I think he is painfully shy - he doesn't front foot it with the media and his reputation is somewhat difficult. He had one season where he was disconnected from his potential, but he will be remembered as a great All Black.

Are we on track for the World Cup?
I hope so, but England at home...I know they are hit or miss but it's a formidable ground, Twickenham.

Well done on your Samoan campaign...but surely so much more than one home test is needed to genuinely help Pacific Islands rugby?
Yes, but this is a start. You've got to have the first game before you get the second. I hope a whole lot of really good things happen. I hope clubs that give players big bonuses not play for national teams realise that is really selfish. To me, rugby is the greatest of all sports - I genuinely believe that. But in order to spread rugby, it's got to help countries develop great national sides. It's hard to do that for a team like Samoa, whose players come from Italy, Japan, France etc and start from scratch each time. They can never have a team of players based at home, but we've got to make it easier for them.