Dannevirke: Ruahine School buzzes with Woodcock visit

Students at Ruahine School perform a haka to welcome All Black Tony Woodcock and the team from ANZ on Wednesday. Photo / Christine McKay

There was a buzz of excitement at Ruahine School on Wednesday as students, staff and parents prepared for the arrival of All Black Tony Woodcock.

In the Tararua with the ANZ Bank team, Woodcock had just enough time in his busy schedule to talk with the school children, sign autographs and have class photos taken.

The most capped All Black prop (118 caps) and acknowledged as one of the world's best, Woodcock told the children the biggest motivator to becoming a top rugby player is "to really want to do it".

However, he acknowledged that age and the physical nature of rugby does take its toll.

"When you get old things tend to break, not bend," he said.

Having scored 10 tries for the All Blacks, two in a World Cup, Woodcock said his first test debut was something special.

"Running out with the All Blacks' shirt on . . ."

Ruahine teacher Jo Brown said the All Blacks have a great reputation and asked Woodcock how they've built an environment for success.

"In the last six or seven years we've been driven by the values of Richie McCaw," he said. "We want to leave the jersey in a better place than when we first put it on.

"We had a lot of discipline, we trained hard and while our mates were out doing cool stuff, like parties, it was the desire to achieve which kept us going."

A major hamstring tear brought Woodcock's career to an end before the semi-finals of this year's Rugby World Cup, but his memory of the 2011 8-7 victory over France in Auckland is still fresh in his mind.

"It was intense and came down to the wire," he said.

So how did he feel about the 18-20 loss to France in the World Cup quarter finals in 2007?

"Devastating. It was a tough few months afterwards."

But it's the South African's Woodcock believes is the hardest team to play.

"They're very physical."