Rugby: Snell to inspire All Blacks

Sir Peter Snell will be a guest of honour for Saturday's test at the arena where he won two Olympic gold medals in 1964. Photo / Getty Images

TOKYO - Forty-five years on, the All Blacks rugby players will tread the same soil as Sir Peter Snell hoping to draw inspiration from the multiple Olympic gold medallist's legendary deeds.

Assistant coach Wayne Smith and captain Richie McCaw both spoke proudly of Snell's impact ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup test at the National Stadium, where they chase seven consecutive wins against the Wallabies.

To add to the occasion, Snell will be flown from his Texas base as a guest of honour for the test at the arena where he won gold in the 800m and 1500m at the 1964 Olympics.

His presence may help alleviate thoughts of complacency among the All Blacks, with the Bledisloe Cup already parcelled up and Saturday's test carrying more a feelgood factor of promoting rugby in Japan and the obvious financial benefits to both rugby unions.

"(Snell) comes down here on Friday so I guess when we go to the ground before the game it might be mentioned," McCaw told a packed press conference yesterday.

"There are some special things from a New Zealand point of view and you acknowledge them."

Smith said team management had already talked up Snell's achievements to their squad.

The black singlet was seen as an iconic symbol of New Zealand sport, alongside the All Blacks jersey, Smith said.

"What he did was incredible, and the mana he showed. It'd be great for our young guys to honour that with a good performance."

Yesterday was all about promotion for both sides as the Japan Rugby Union (JRU) try to market the game in the hope of packing out the 48,000-seat stadium, with baseball fever reigning in Tokyo on the eve of their national league finals series.

As the transtasman combatants arrived in the huge city this week, less than half the tickets had sold although local officials were confidently predicting a crowd of 40,000-plus.

JRU president Yoshiro Mori, seated between captains McCaw and Rocky Elsom at the 200-strong press conference, quipped he would like to offer free tickets to make it a sellout and show Japan as worthy 2019 World Cup hosts.

The press conference, including the Wallabies' team announcement, stretched for nearly 90 minutes as questions and answers were translated.

McCaw declined a request for he and teammate Conrad Smith to perform the haka for their captive audience but spoke of how much it meant to New Zealanders.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans got into the spirit, although after one particularly thorough translation of a response he said with a grin: "I wasn't aware I was so verbose."

Deans made four personnel changes to his starting 15, with the axing of 105-test flanker George Smith the talking point as wingers Peter Hynes and Digby Ioane, centre Ryan Cross and No 8 Wycliff Palu were promoted.

New captain Elsom will become the Wallabies' 76th test skipper as his side try to break a tryscoring drought of over 200 minutes against the All Blacks.

The All Blacks were scheduled to name their team today with few changes expected from the 33-6 win over the Wallabies in Wellington last month.

- NZPA