As far as rugby feats go, Blues captain Keven Mealamu has achieved them all.
Now renowned as the best hooker in the world, Mealamu has won the Rugby World Cup, numerous Tri Nations and Grand Slam tours with the All Blacks, claimed the 2003 Super Rugby title and became the first player to reach 100 games for the Blues.
But if you think that would make the 32-year-old Blues veteran even slightly complacent, think again.
Despite a gruelling rugby schedule last year which culminated in World Cup glory, Mealamu is hungrier than ever to lead his team forward in 2012 and add another Super Rugby title to his already impressive résumé.
“I’m still loving it and it’s still a dream to be a part of this team,” Mealamu said as he prepares to embark on his 12th campaign with the Blues.
“I can still remember sitting in the stands watching the finals all the way back in 1996 and 1997 so to be a part of this team and be a part of this legacy is incredibly special and I just want to make sure we do it right and try to go further with the team this year,” he said.
After celebrating the All Blacks’ famous Rugby World Cup victory late last year, Mealamu has enjoyed a well deserved break, making the most of his down time to relax with family and friends.
“It’s actually been really nice to spend some quality time at home with the kids and it’s been really awesome to laze around and know at the end of the year last year that we achieved the things we really wanted to achieve.
“But another year has come around and there are new goals and new aspirations so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into those.”
Mealamu rejoined his Blues teammates along with the rest of the All Blacks earlier this month and while he’s still working through a couple of niggling injuries, he admitted he was feeling in great shape and was thriving on the atmosphere in the camp.
“I really enjoy the atmosphere here, everyone’s working really hard and it’s a really good feeling because everyone’s pushing each other along. These are the days you’ve got to put the hard yards in, put the money in the bank, so to speak, so when we need them come game time they’re there and ready to go.”
The All Blacks may be slightly behind the pace of the other Blues players who kicked off their pre-season training in December, but Mealamu said it wouldn’t be long before they got back up to speed.
“In the All Blacks’ absence Daniel Braid and Tom McCartney have been really driving the standards of the team and everyone is in pretty good nick. They’ve all been working really hard but it shouldn’t be too long before the boys that have just joined the team again get up to speed with things and really start getting this thing humming.”
Despite losing big name players such as Joe Rokocoko, Jared Payne, Luke McAlister and John Afoa from last year, there is still a lot of continuity in the 2012 Blues squad, with only a handful of players joining the team for the first time.
Michael Hobbs returns to the Blues after a stint with the Auckland based franchise in 2009 and Rudi Wulf is back following a season with Toulon, while New Zealand Under-20 stars Gareth Anscombe and Angus Ta’avao have graduated from the Wider Training Group to the full squad this year.
That only leaves the All Blacks duo of Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu, as well as backs George Moala and David Raikuna, as the only players foreign to the Blues environment.
With so many players already well versed in the Blues’ systems and structures, it means the team is able to focus on the micro level rather than being bogged down in learning the overarching game plan and structures.
“It’s those little things that make such a big difference,” Mealamu said.
“With a lot of our game already in place, you’ve got to make sure you do all the little things right and it really helps to make sure you execute the big picture.
“So if we’re doing the little things right like hydrating, making sure we’re ready for training, focusing on the basic skills and making sure we execute them every time from the very start of the season and carry them through to the end it should go a long way to helping us reach our goals.”
One major difference to the line-up early in the season will be in the engine room. Last year the team boasted a front row with three Blues centurions in Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu and John Afoa.
But with Afoa having now departed for Ireland and Woodcock sitting out of the first four games of the season, the onus now lies on the youngsters to step up to the mark.
Charlie Faumuina, Tevita Mailau, Angus Ta’avao and Pauliasi Manu loom as the contenders to fill the void, and Mealamu is confident they’ll be more than ready for the challenge.
“We definitely lose a lot of experience with Jonny going overseas and with Woody joining us a little bit later in the season so I think it’s making sure we do the ground work in the pre-season, making sure we get the good relationships going so when we’re under the pump during game time we know exactly how to deal with things.
“Our props have been around for a while now and although they haven’t been on the field, they’ve been a part of this team for a couple of years so I really expect them to step up and do a good job.”
While Mealamu may be joined on either side of the scrum by some relatively new faces, the addition of his long time All Black teammates Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu to the Blues are welcome additions.
“I think they’ll add a wealth of experience,” he said.
“They’ve been around Super Rugby and around the All Blacks for a long time and although they’re new to this team they’re not the sort of people that are shy; they get along with everyone pretty easily and are good people as well.
“It’s really good to have them around the team and Pow’s fitted in really well and I know Ma’a will do the same when he joins the team later on.”
The Blues play their first pre-season match of the year against the Hurricanes on Saturday February 4 in Whangarei.