Better with age

The “exceptional player” Brad Thorn is set to earn his 5th cap for New Zealand against Wales at Cardiff on November 28, after missing the last game due to a hamstring injury. “At 35 years old he’s packed so much into a sporting life, not alone representing Australia at rugby league but apart from multiple honours with the Brisbane Broncos, including four NRL Grand Finals, he was voted in the top 2 players in the history of the sport during two separate spells in league,” the Irish Times’ John O’Sullivan writes. “Given the production line of talent that emanates from New Zealand commandeering a starting position, in the second row, on the All Blacks in your mid-3s doesn’t require further elaboration.” Forwards coach Steve Hansen enthused: ‘He’s just like fine wine, he’s gotten better with age. He has the attitude that he wants to be there … He’s one of the fittest guys in the team. Age is not the barrier; what’s the barrier is your mind.’”