The All Blacks and England will play for a memorial trophy dedicated to Sir Edmund Hillary.
All Blacks centre Conrad Smith, a lawyer, turned to history teaching at the New Zealand hotel here tonight ahead of their season-ending rugby test against England at Twickenham.
Smith was tasked with reminding his teammates of the significance of the Hillary Shield, the new trophy they will play
for on Saturday (0330 Sunday NZT).
The elaborate silver shield has been crafted to commemorate the achievements of the legendary conqueror of Mt Everest, New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary.
Smith was instructed to remind his teammates that Sir Ed, who passed away in January aged 88, was much more than the face on one side of the $5 note.
Though victory will secure New Zealand's third Grand Slam in the UK and Ireland since the `Originals' made the first attempt in 1905, becoming the inaugural holders of the shield is of paramount importance to the All Blacks as they contemplate the end of a 15-test schedule.
"The shield is the thing for us," insisted All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. "This is the prize."
Sir Ed was part of a British expedition to Nepal when he scaled the world's highest peak 55 years ago, but the team have been left in no doubt he was first and foremost an iconic New Zealander.
Wayne Smith was comfortable the team had already had a good depth of knowledge.
"Subliminally we've got some Sir Ed memorabilia around and the boys have been reading about him," he said.
"There's a good knowledge about him."
Captain Richie McCaw got his hands on the shield temporarily today at a photo call with Lady June Hillary and England captain Steve Borthwick at Twickenham.
Lady Hillary will present the shield to the winning captain.
Wayne Smith said the team were desperate to take it home - and that tantalising prospect had translated to an impressive final training session today ahead of tomorrow's light captain's run.
He thought the awarding of the new trophy to mark rugby rivalry between New Zealand and England had been well-timed, coinciding with the end of a long season where motivation might be on the wane.
"It think the timing's good, it is helpful. I know it's inspired me and I'm sure a lot of the boys are too," he said.
"You can't guarantee anything but you want to go out there and honour him, that's what everyone is trying to do."
- NZPA
