The story behind the All Blacks tribute to Diego Maradona
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All Blacks captain Sam Cane has credited scrumhalf TJ Perenara with the idea of presenting Argentina with an All Blacks jersey with the name Maradona on the back.
Cane laid the jersey down on Argentina's side of halfway before the haka in a tribute to the late Diego Maradona.
"It was a gesture, a token of paying our respects to an Argentinian legend and a world legend in his field," Cane said.
Cane, who admits to not knowing a lot about football, said the players in the team who did know what Maradona meant and he felt it was the right thing to do.
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) November 28, 2020
"Rugby's a game that, first and foremost, is built on respect, I believe, and it was respectful and the right thing to do," he said.
Argentina captain Pablo Matera said Cane told him at the coin toss that the All Blacks were going to make the presentation.
"We are very thankful for that. Maradona was obviously huge for Argentina so I am really thankful for that gesture from the All Blacks," he said.
Via: allblacks.com
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