KEY POINTS:
When All Black captain Richie McCaw sent Nina Naidu flying to the ground during a promotional game of rugby yesterday the schoolgirl grabbed her bruised and swollen face in shock.
About a minute later the 10-year-old smiled through the pain, realising a dream had just come true.
"I actually felt quite happy because Richie came up quite close to me," said the excited West Aucklander.
Nina was one of 10 Edmonton Primary School pupils who visited Trusts Stadium in Henderson yesterday to help promote the New Zealand Rugby Union's junior recruitment campaign, "Rugby: You're Made For It".
The children were sitting on the sideline watching the All Blacks playing rugby when McCaw came flying towards them in a tackle.
The 1.87m openside flanker looked as though he was doing acrobatics as he tried to manoeuvre his 106kg frame in an attempt to avoid the pupils.
But his knee hit Nina's face, knocking them both to the ground.
"He said, 'I'm very, very sorry'. I said, 'It's OK'," said Nina.
After the initial shock wore off the young McCaw fan decided her close encounter wasn't such a bad thing.
"It was very, very awesome to meet him."
Nina, who plays rippa rugby (a non-contact version of the game) for her school, was checked over by the All Blacks' doctor and given an icepack for the bruising and swelling.
While McCaw was not available for comment last night the All Black team expressed their thanks to the young student for being "such a good sport".
McCaw, the face of the junior rugby recruitment campaign, has called on young Kiwis to follow his lead and take up rugby for the enjoyment and camaraderie that come from the game.
As part of the campaign, which kicks off next week, two young rugby players who sign up to play rugby this year will win a prize training with the All Blacks later this season.
