Former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry expects a few nerves, when professional rugby returns this weekend.
Super Rugby Aotearoa will be the first professional rugby competition in the world to resume, after most global sport was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.
New Zealand currently has no active COVID-19 cases and crowds are allowed to attend matches, with 16,000 confirmed for Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium, when the Highlanders host the Chiefs in the season opener.
More than 35,000 tickets have been snapped up for the Blues v Hurricanes match in Auckland on Sunday afternoon.
Sir Graham, who coached the Blues to the first Super Rugby titles (1996, 97), will be in the Eden Park stands, with his grandson and a young friend, but he expects some rust from all teams.
"They will play with a huge amount of passion," he has told The AM Show. "They love the game and they'll be jumping out of their skin.
"They will be rusty and there will be mistakes without any rugby in three months, but I hope everybody stays fit.
"I think we're going to see some magnificent rugby. The guys just love playing, but it might take a couple of weeks to get things right."
The biggest story in the lead-up to the competition was All Blacks superstar Dan Carter signing with the Blues as an injury replacement.
Coach Leon MacDonald and Carter himself admitted he would need time to get up to speed, but Sir Graham expects the 38-year-old to make a big impact.
"I think he'll come on off the bench and they'll put him in a position where he can make a difference.
"Beauden [Barrett] can play fullback, and Dan can play first-five or even second-five, but that would surprise me.
"He may start some games, but it's great for rugby that he's back.
"He will make a difference to the Blues, I'm sure."
Watch the video above for the full interview
