All Blacks fly-half, Canterbury great, and the metronome of New Zealand rugby through the 1990s
RugbyAndrew Mehrtens kicked goals for New Zealand the way most people post letters, with the quiet efficiency of someone who had done it every day of his life.
Born in Durban in 1973 to a rugby playing family, Mehrtens grew up in Christchurch and made his All Blacks debut in 1995 at the age of 22. His first Test against Canada produced a haul of 28 points, signalling what was coming. Over the next nine years he won 70 caps, scored 967 Test points, and held the New Zealand all time points record until Dan Carter eventually surpassed it. He was the fly-half at the 1995 World Cup Final, where food poisoning famously swept through the All Blacks squad on the eve of the match in Johannesburg.
At provincial level he drove Canterbury to the dominant era of the NPC and became one of the most successful fly halves in Super Rugby history with the Crusaders, winning three titles between 1998 and 2000. After New Zealand he had spells at Harlequins, Toulon, Bezier and Racing Metro, bringing the All Black way of thinking to the French club game.
Mehrtens has always been thoughtful company. His father and grandfather both played for New Zealand, giving him an inherited sense of what the jersey means. He now works in rugby media and coaching in Europe and South Africa, and is a frequent and entertaining guest on the northern hemisphere speaking circuit.
At Steam Wine Bar he brings the inside view of New Zealand's 1990s golden era, the 1995 final, and the French club revolution, delivered with the dry wit of a man who has seen most of what the sport has to offer.
Two decades of world class speakers in the basement at EC3. Want to book Andrew Mehrtens or someone like them? Tell us what you need and we will come back with a plan.
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