All Blacks: Emotional return to roots for southern man Thorn

Nearing 400 first-class games in rugby and league, Brad Thorn sees the World Cup as a real possibility. Photo / Getty Images

Born in Mosgiel, schooled in Cromwell and Bannockburn. Brad Thorn's rugby pedigree is tied heavily to the deep south and many of his relatives still live there.

So a trip to Dunedin for an All Black test doubles as an opportunity to catch up with family and reconnect with his Caledonian heritage.

"It is personal and it is emotional," the All Black lock says.

He has been to visit his 96-year-old aunt, Ann Scott, and some of her cronies in a Milton nursing home, supporters who cannot be at tonight's final test at Carisbrook but will be in Thorn's thoughts during the night.

"I've got lots of relations down here and half of them I don't know yet," he said.

"But coming down here, seeing some of them being proud of me, it is unique for me. This is where it all started, where Dad would have sat me on his knee watching test matches.

"We only came back [when the Thorn family shifted to Brisbane] once every four years and for me, now, it is big time."

Thorn made his test debut against Wales seven years ago on a very emotional night in Hamilton.

His continued international career is a remarkable story and he now admits he's allowed himself to think he can make it to next year's World Cup.

By then he should have clocked well over 400 first-class games of rugby and league, staggering numbers for a bloke who earned his coin up front in the toughest confrontations in both codes.

He played 236 league games for the Broncos, Queensland and the Kangaroos, has ticked over 108 matches for Canterbury, Tasman and the Crusaders and has played 38 tests and a midweek game for the All Blacks.

"When you get to my age [35] you've got to set goals ... and if I could achieve that [400 matches] in these two countries it would be really cool.

"You look at senior guys like Rodney [So'oialo] who suddenly miss out, so I'm very mindful of that."

At the other end of the age and experience scale is Sam Whitelock, one of the test prospect locks Thorn has been paired with this season at the Crusaders.

"He's a guy who is going somewhere, he's hungry and he wants to make the most of every opportunity, he grabs those chances."

Thorn presented Whitelock with his cap after his two-try debut last week in New Plymouth.

At the Crusaders, Thorn has also worked this season with wannabe All Black locks Isaac Ross and Chris Jack. There have been awkward times as Thorn tried to mentor each of them, and at the same time had to let them go and perform.

It was difficult when coaches asked him to compare his colleagues' qualities.

He felt Whitelock was "the full package". He was very willing, strong in the air, a good scrummager and Thorn hoped he would get through the next few years without too much damage as his frame filled out.