We and our partners store and/or access information on a device, such as cookies and process
personal data, such as unique identifiers and standard information sent by a device for
personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, and audience insights, as well as
to develop and improve products.
With your permission we and our partners may use precise geolocation. You may click to
consent to our and our partners’ processing as described above. Please note that some
processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but you have a right to
object to such processing.
This is an important message requiring you to make a choice if you're based in the U.S.
California.
We, and our partners, use technologies to process personal information, including IP
addresses,pseudonymous identifiers associated with cookies, and in some cases mobile ad IDs.This
information is processed to personalize content based on your interests, run and optimize
marketing campaigns, measure the performance of ads and content, and derive insights about the
audiences who engage with ads and content. This data is an integral part of how we operate our
site, make revenue to support our staff, and generate relevant content for our audience. You can
learn more about our data collection and use practices in our Privacy Policy.
SPOTLIGHT: For New Zealand forward Tamaiti Williams, a visit to a First World War cemetery ahead of the World Cup in France provided an unexpected and emotional link to his family heritage.
The squad visited the official New Zealand military cemetery at Longueval, known as Caterpillar Valley, outside Arras. They also went into the tunnels dug by the soldiers.
"It's been pretty overwhelming," said Williams. "I found out my great, great grandfather served in those tunnels. That was a pretty special moment for my family."
Williams said he had posted about the visit on social media.
"My grandmother got my auntie to text me and send a few pictures. It was pretty cool to be down there where he was."
"Down there, you feel how hard it must have been."
"When I got back to my room, I had a little tear with my mum. It came out of nowhere."
"No one in my family's been to France and for me to see with my own eyes where he was was special."
"I'm from a small place in New Zealand and for my great, great grandfather to do that, this far across the world, it gives me a good image of who I am and where I come from."
The 23-year-old, who is from Whangarei north of Auckland, made his All Blacks debut against South Africa in July.
"To know you have men in the team who have ancestors who were involved in such a special, devastating, tough place to be, it really gives you a connection to France," said hooker Codie Taylor.
"What they did was so much bigger than rugby, but they went for their nation to do something. We're on the same mission in sport and in rugby."
At Longueval, the All Blacks laid a wreath for Bobby Black, a former New Zealand rugby international, who died in the Battle of the Somme.
They also performed a haka, but Taylor, who like Williams has played for the Maori All Blacks, said it was different from a game-day challenge.
"That one was more around the connection in our heart and our soul - as Maori connecting back to those men that are laid there at rest and the men that are still missing with their names on the wall. It was a chance to honour them and for us the haka is one way we do that and pay our respect to the men who fought and the All Black on the wall."
"The haka when we're in Stade de France is all about battle and connecting us as a team the buzz is a little different you're giving your all because you're about to go to war."