Before kick-off yesterday the one-liners were flying as fast as the ball at the KPMG Britcham lunch at the Hong Kong Football Club. Former Wallaby Matt Burke's comment that 'New Zealand won't win today as Kiwis don't have enough fingers to count to 11' proved to be prescient.
Rugby nicknames were bandied about by MC Justin Sampson and Burke (pictured). Aussie ex-international Phil Kearns was referred to as Lightning 'because he can't hit the same spot twice', countryman Tom Lawton was referred to as Turtle, as 'he looks like one' and former Wallabies coach Rod McQueen was called Mailman, 'because he always delivers'.
Ex-Wallaby Dan Crowley was at a lunch for Leighton Asia Limited around the corner so couldn't defend himself from the friendly fire, although his nickname, Undercover Prop, was on the mark, referring to his police role in Queensland as well as the name of his book. Former All Black flanker Josh Kronfeld joined in the banter, recounting how he met Sampson in Shanghai four years ago: 'Shanghai is a cacophony of sounds, and like Hong Kong it changes shape every time you go there. Justin's also changed shape and is 13 kilos lighter than when I last saw him.'
Back-line players didn't escape the banter: 'They love make-up, mascara and women's magazines,' said Sampson.