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Howlett ponders Test return

Thursday 11th September 2008

Howlett: Back for a final hurrah?

Munster's former All Black wing Doug Howlett has revealed that he hasn't ruled out the possibility of a return to the All Blacks before the 2011 World Cup.

Howlett, who holds New Zealand's try-scoring record, is in the second season of his three-year contract with European champions Munster. The wing quit Test rugby and joined the Irish province after last year's World Cup in France.

"There's a World Cup in 2011 in New Zealand which is a huge carrot for any rugby player," said Howlett.

"I will re-assess closer to the time whether I feel I'm playing well enough to warrant a go at an All Blacks jersey."

Howlett will be 33 when the next World Cup is staged in his homeland,and he pointed out that not winning the sport's biggest tournament remains the greatest regret of his playing career.

"That's the only blemish, really," he said.

"But that's sport. It's a World Cup and they don't come easily. I've had two goes at it now and unfortunately I haven't managed to get hold of it."

Howlett was surprising left out of Graham Henry's 22 squad that went down to a shock quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff, despite being one of the team's standout players, having scored six tries.

But Howlett feels no ill will towards the All Black coach who often polarises opinion in New Zealand.

"It was a disappointment as those games where everything is on the line are obviously the ones you want to play in," he said.

"I felt that I was playing well but it came down to one decision and I supported that decision at the time."

In the wake of New Zealand's shock exit from the tournament, Howlett was arrested in London after a boozy prank with friends got out of hand and he was accused of damaging two cars after an evening at a hotel near Heathrow airport. He escaped criminal charges but says he regrets the incident.

"It wasn't a result of the World Cup as such," he said.

"It was more of an end of an era for me as an All Black. It was a final farewell to team-mates and I obviously got a little carried away and out of hand but it was a shame to finish my All Black career that way.

"What's done was done, I apologised and I've moved on."

Howlett says he and his young family have settled well in the Irish city of Cork and that he's relishing the new Heineken Cup campaign with Munster.

"I spent nine years as an All Black in New Zealand. We've always seen European rugby on TV and always thought of trying it out. The experience with Munster has been wonderful so far," he said.

Munster once hosted Christian Cullen, another legend of New Zealand rugby, whose national Test record Howlett broke last year, scoring 49 tries compared to Cullen's 46.

Howlett says that he's proud of the record and hope that it will inspire emerging Rugby players within New Zealand to try to follow his footsteps.

"I distinctly remember meeting John Kirwan as a 10-year-old boy," he said.

"He was my favorite All Black winger and I've always thought that if get to that stage, I'll want to leave those kind of memories in kids' minds.

"It's especially important back home where it's such a big part of life."