Commentator Grant Nisbett is set to call his 350th All Blacks match this weekend when they take on Ireland in Dublin on Saturday morning.
The 'voice of rugby' called his first All Blacks Test for television in 1984 when they beat France at Lancaster Park in Christchurch 10-9.
He's now called over half of New Zealand's 648 Tests.
"No I never dreamed of it, when you've done it for 40 years I guess it's just a triumph of longevity but when I first started I never imagined I'd get to that sort of milestone," Nisbett told Breakfast this morning.
Rugby commentator Grant Nisbett is set to call his 350th All Blacks Test this weekend. (Source: Photosport)
Nisbett said that his favourite Test to call was the 1996 All Blacks series win in South Africa.
"The All Blacks had never won a series over there and they got to Pretoria and they really had to win, because they knew the next week they probably weren't going to win in Johannesburg. So to be behind the microphone when they won that first ever series in South Africa was remarkable."
Nisbett also has fond memories of calling the 'game of the century' in Sydney in 2000. He remembers Jonah Lomu scoring a last-minute try in the corner to win 39-35 against Australia.
He also called the All Blacks Rugby World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015.
"The 2015 win I think is an absolute highlight at Twickenham, and 2011 at Eden Park which was highly nerve-wracking."
Nisbett's 300th game was the All Blacks' 26-13 win against France in 2018.
In the same year, Nisbett was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to sports broadcasting.
The 73-year-old began his career in radio before moving to commentate for television.
"I came from radio and in radio you tend to talk pretty much all the time and if you watch some of the early games I did, I talk non-stop.
"I think I've learned the value of silence in television because the pictures are there, that's been the hardest thing to do I think."
Nisbett thinks the All Blacks "got out of jail" in their win against England last weekend and said he thinks this match will be tougher for the Kiwis.
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"They're the No. 1 team in the world Ireland, they're at home and they've got a few scores to settle too, particularly after the World Cup quarterfinal last year.
"They [Ireland] are capable as we've seen since 2016, when they beat NZ for the first time in Chicago. They've beaten NZ subsequently a couple more times so they are capable, but I've always got faith in the All Blacks."
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