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Blues captain Kevin Mealamu - Source: Photosport -
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He has set well over 1000 scrums and now All Black hooker Keven
Mealamu is about to enter where no Blues players has gone
before.
Mealamu will become the franchise's first centurion against the
Brumbies on Friday night at Auckland's Eden Park.
He has already long past one hundred appearances in Super rugby,
having achieved that distinction last season on virtue of playing
11 matches for the Chiefs in 2002.
But he will be the first to wear the Blues jersey 100 times, having
already sneaked past the records of Doug Howlett (97) and Carlos
Spencer (96) this year.
It's an achievement that the 30-year-old Mealamu finds flattering
ten-years after making his Super rugby debut.
Click here for full Keven Mealamu interview
"It's pretty special for me, especially knowing who's worn this
jersey: guys like Michael Jones, Fitzy (Sean Fitzpatrick), Zinny
(Zinzan Brook), man and Carlos (Spencer) you know, it's awesome to
be the first person to do that, Mealamu told ONE News.
Jonah Lomu and Howlett are notable omissions from the ones
mentioned but there is little doubt that, as far as the Blues are
concerned, Mealamu is up on that list.
But despite all the region's talent he has only tasted Super rugby
championship success once, in 2003.
Indeed the Blues have become New Zealand rugby's perpetual
under-achievers in recent seasons and Mealamu knows it.
"I think very frustrating for me, I know what we're capable of it's
been a shame we haven't been able to reach that potential," he
said.
Mealamu's own individual journey at the Blues has also been far
from smooth sailing but his drafting to the Chiefs in 2002 was, in
retrospect, a chance for him to grow not only as a rugby player but
as a person too.
"There's nothing worst than rejection but when you get an
opportunity to rise from that& it's a good test of character
and I think I've been lucky my parents have installed some good
values in me."
Nine seasons on and Melamau is a Blues veteran, a Blues icon and
has all of his 99 previous matches written all over his 30-year-old
face.
He laughs and points out some of his old battle scars and then
pauses and then, reflects.
"My first Blues jersey came down to my knees, they've gotten
shorter and a lot tighter so you have to keep in shape or you don't
look right on TV."
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