mealamu could have 100 and 17 reasons to celebrate,,,

//Getty Images Mealamu could have 100 and 17 reasons to celebrate James Mortimer - (9/10/2012) - 37 Comments

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will look at becoming the third All Black to bring up the cherished milestone of 100 test matches, a remarkable achievement when considering that just over 12 months ago no New Zealand test player had hit the ton.
  All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and current Japan based fullback Mils Muliaina are the other members of the exclusive club.

For Mealamu, who made his test debut on 23 November, 2002 against Wales at Millennium Stadium, it represents another honour in a long career that has seen the Tokoroa born rake captain his country.

With attributes previously unheard of for a hooker, with former All Blacks coach John Mitchell heralding Mealamu’s arrival by saying he had “special qualities for a number two”, and despite being a diminutive (by modern hooking standards) 1.81cm and 106kg, the most capped All Blacks rake in the game has been a colossus.

Another achievement could be registered by Mealamu and the All Blacks in Brisbane, with the World Record streak of 18 test matches potentially imminent (17 for tier one nations which could be matches in Brisbane) but before that it was important for the team to recharge Mealamu said.

If the All Blacks do win in Brisbane, they will match the 17 straight wins achieved by the All Blacks of 1965 to 1969 and the Springboks of 1997 to 1998.

Lithuania registered 18 straight wins, but played no tier one nation while achieving this feat.

"We know it's (the record) there," Mealamu said.

"(But first) It's important for your physical and mental well-being to get a rest.

"There haven't been any free weekends since we finished Super Rugby and that competition is so busy. It's very important because it's such a long season."

congrats on an epic career kev, ur a bloody legend.

 

i would love for every All Black who plays a their 100th test to actually win that test, McCaw did it against the french, mills did it against the pumas and hopefully kev continues in what i hope becomes a long standing tradition with the All Blacks. it would go hand in hand with that other amazing tradition of the All Blacks known as winning, :o)

GO ALL BLACKS & GO KEVEN MEALAMU!!!