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MARSEILLE - Two of the more gifted playmakers of their generation will trade secrets when French soccer great Zinedine Zidane meets the All Blacks on Thursday.
In a cross-code meeting organised by apparel sponsor adidas, Zidane will visit the New Zealand team and carry out some promotional work with first five-eighth Daniel Carter. It is unclear what the promotion involves but it is believed to include a group of French children.
Zidane, among the most gifted players of the last decade, is best-known for his head-butt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi for which he was sent off in last year's World Cup soccer final.
He was raised in a poor suburb of Marseille and is glorified here.
All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina was surprised when told of Thursday's rendezvous.
"I'll probably be in awe, I'll try and get his autograph and get a photo," Muliana said.
Meanwhile, All Blacks captain Richie McCaw will travel north tomorrow to be involved in a promotion in Paris involving all 20 World Cup captains ahead of the first game of the tournament there on Friday.
The skippers will sign a statue sculpted by former French captain Jean-Pierre Rives.
- NZPA
