nzherald.co.nz has selected Atu the kiwi, from the Otorohanga
Kiwi House, to take on the Herald newspaper's Richie McCow in picking key matches at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Nine-year-old Atu is one of only two grey spotted kiwis in captivity anywhere in the world.
Atu loves sleeping, around 20 hours a day. But when she's awake, general manager Paul Stuart-Higgs says she's "an extremely sociable bird" who loves human interaction - "and picking winners".
Her favourite player is ex-All Black and Waikato star Liam Messam.
Atu was hatched at the Kiwi House in 2002, and her 17-year-old mother is the only other grey spotted kiwi in captivity.
