In the last decade the All Blacks have become a travelling roadshow. The purpose of these offshore ventures is firstly, a short-term need to make extra cash, and secondly, to grow the profile and value of the brand by taking the All Blacks to new and prosperous markets.

Games played under the ‘official window’ fall under traditional financial arrangements, where NZRU are limited by comparatively small stadia. So NZR has looked to work around the existing system by trying to play tests outside of the official window where they can strike better financial returns.

The policy around new markets began in 2008 when the All Blacks and Wallabies played in Hong Kong. Since this fixture the All Blacks have also appeared in Tokyo and Chicago.

That’s the influence that the All Blacks have – they are in demand in places where rugby is barely played or understood.

Issue 189, NZ Rugby World. On sale now.

Following the All Blacks test against France on the 1963-64 tour Mac Herewini was advised that his brother had died in a motor accident back in NZ. Management had elected to delay telling Herewini until after the test match.