One more big game for tired All Black

By MARC HINTON in Marseille - Stuff.co.nz

Brad Thorn is tired and misses his family. He's ready to go home and forget about rugby for a month or two... But first the ageless All Black has one little bit of business to take care of.

Apparently the big, bad French are coming, and they're not going to be taking names. Having bashed the Boks, they're now intent on crushing some Kiwis. One thing has become glaringly obvious with Marc Lievremont's rejuvenated side, with their chest thumping after every big scrum, high fives after every thundering hit, it is now all about physical dominance.

---

Stuff.co.nz will have the latest coverage of the All Blacks-France match on Sunday, including match report and analysis, photos and video.

---

They showed that as they out-Boks'd the Boks in Toulouse; and now apparently they're coming at the All Blacks with the same approach for what could be the year's most momentous test.

It's why Thorn, who's showing signs that the wear and tear of the long season has finally taken its toll, reckons he's got just enough gas in the tank to get through 80 minutes at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday morning (NZ time).

The 34-year-old tough guy, whom Graham Henry reckons is in the form of his life, is all but spent and has been given an early release from this tour to head home on Sunday. A pretty heavy head cold picked up this week hasn't helped matters either.

Part of Thorn just wants to get on that plane. The 116kg lock admits that. But another part knows that there's one important matter to take care of first.

"I hope they do [come with plenty of physicality] because it's rugby and that's what it's about," said Thorn. "I hope we'll be coming with some physicality as well.

"I really rated the French earlier this year. I think they're a really good footy team, and we feel like they've even made some improvements. It's going to be a real good tussle – they've got good backs and ours are pretty good too; and with the forwards it should be a real good test."

The big Canterbury lock, who along with dad-to-be Andy Ellis has been given the last week off, says he's finding it difficult both mentally and physically this week.

"I know that I'm going home," the father of four young children said.

 

"I started playing trials in late-January and now we're about to come into December… I've been away from my family a lot, and I'm looking forward to getting home.

"Physically I'm feeling pretty good. I just know I've got one job to do, it's an 80-minute bracket, and if I don't give that the right respect then I won't feel good going home.

"I know whatever I go through there's huge rest afterwards so there's nothing to hold back for me."

Thorn also revealed why he likes to complete full games (he has played every minute of the 12 tests he's been asked to start this year). He loves the last 20 minutes, when bodies start to betray the work that's been asked of them.

"It's an important time of the game. Some guys start to fade, some guys hang in there. It's usually when the game is decided... We all like being out there and being part of that. Hopefully I'll get to do that again on Saturday."

It's no wonder Graham Henry calls this guy an "inspiration" to every All Black. Big man. Big ticker.