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Braid enters comeback history books

Thursday 24th July 2008

Back in the side: Daniel Braid goes through the motions at an All Blacks training session

Daniel Braid will equal the record for an All Blacks drought between Test appearances when he plays against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

A total of 57 Tests have been played since openside flanker Braid last pulled on the black jersey, where 13 minutes against Canada and 54 minutes against Tonga at the 2003 World Cup were his lot.

It matches the number of Tests that former Auckland and Blues team-mate Xavier Rush missed between his debut against Australia in 1998 and his recall at number eight against England in 2004.

He admits there were times during the past four years when he seriously considered shifting overseas, but his good form for Auckland and the Blues, and a few chats with New Zealand coach Graham Henry, convinced him to stay.

"We had some offers there but I wanted to hang around and have another crack at the All Blacks," Braid told NZPA.

"The hanging around has paid off."

With All Blacks captain Richie McCaw under an injury cloud, Braid tried to imagine what he would have been doing on the field as he watched Australia's win against South Africa last week.

"I was picturing myself out there against the Aussies, doing a bit of prep, just in case this opportunity came up," he said.

That's a change for Braid who felt like a bit of a bystander when he first made the All Blacks as a 21-year-old in 2002.

"I felt I deserved to be there but I was with some old legends and you almost get a bit awestruck," he said.

"Now I'm better able to handle being in this environment. I've played my whole career with these guys."

Braid said his team-mates from Auckland were this week calling him Xavier to acknowledge the achievement.

"It was pretty frustrating because I had some pretty good form at certain times. I also had injuries and didn't have good form at other times," said Braid.

"The fact I was winning championships at Auckland and playing some good rugby at the Blues kept me here. I've always wanted to play for the All Blacks again as well."

Two other Auckland-based loose forwards round out the top five absenteeisms in New Zealand Test history.

Lock/loose forward Troy Flavell missed 51 Tests between 2001 and 2006 while Mark Carter was absent for 46 between 1991 and 1997.

Current lock Brad Thorn endured a sizeable drought after returning to Rugby League following the 2003 World Cup. He was recalled this year after a 48-Test hiatus.

Former lock Mark Cooksley has a greater Test gap than them all, missing 67 between 1994 and 2001, but he played several midweek matches during that period.

In terms of time, every All Black is eclipsed by Southland hooker Ned Hughes, who wasn't sighted in a Test for more than 13 years - a period that spanned World War 1.

He played against the Lions at Carisbrook in 1908 and was picked to return at that ground against South Africa in 1921 at the age of 40, making him the oldest player in All Blacks history.