They may have faced a Lions forward pack muscling in at 840kg, but it turns out what really puts the fear up the All Blacks' rugby shorts is something much more light weight: A pair of jocks.
Sam Cane and Ardie Savea this year's Jockey stars, with Cane heading down the New Zealand Fashion Week runway and Savea appearing in the print campaign and they're a wee bit nervous, to say the least.
While Savea's undie-only image graces buses and billboards, Cane's trying not to think about making his brief debut.
Asked if he's looking forward to the challenge of the catwalk, Cane's eyes grow wide as he tells the Herald: "Looking forward to it is not really a word I would use. I don't really like thinking about it to be honest, I'll try put it to the back of my mind and then when the time comes, I won't have a choice, so I'll get out there and do it.
"The only time I walked down a runway was doing a suit for Working Styles once. I was nervous enough about that, and I had a fully covered suit."
Savea isn't a stranger to getting down to his Jockeys, after appearing earlier this year in the brand's Dress Code campaign. Photo / Supplied
The runway is a daunting place for even the most experienced of models, so tripping and falling over is "absolutely a big concern" for Cane.
For Savea, the layout of the catwalk is on his mind. He says it can be confusing and the "formations" the models are directed in only adds to the difficulty. But it's something he reckons will make the show "fun to watch" when his team mates get on the runway.
While models will often change their diets in the lead up to a show in order to be "runway ready" the All Blacks' diet is kept under close scrutiny by their nutritionists, with a focus on consuming plenty of calories.
So for Cane, his diet and exercise regime can't change too much ahead of his undie-run, although he might lay off some sweet treats.
"Maybe I will be just a little bit more conscious of the chocolate and treats on a Friday night, or post game," he said.
While Cane hadn't given much thought to any poses he might like to strike at the end of the runway, Savea said it was always good to go for something strong:
"Just a straight face. Clench the jaw," he advised with a laugh.
Jockeys' latest models Sam Cane and Ardie Savea. Photo / Nick Reed
And while the task is daunting, the pair agree it's easier to model a product like Jockey that they know and love.
"Yeah I wear Jockey all the time," Savea said, with Cane adding he "definitely" likes the Jockey gear he'll be modelling in September.
While the ad campaign may have bolstered the boys' fan base across the country, Savea says his Dad's reaction is what's really resonating: "Dad saw it and came up to me and said 'what is that?'"
