Frank Bunce's reunion with his old All Blacks mates proved a sobering and shocking experience for the former worldbeaters.
Previously finely tuned athletes, a motley band of largely couch potatoes assembled six weeks ago for Three's Match Fit series, kicking off at 7:30pm Tuesday.
All Blacks legends Wayne 'Buck' Shelford and Sir Graham Henry will guide the squad back to somewhere near full fitness some 15-20 years after their primes.
Along the way, they will tackle many of the challenges that confront middle-aged men, especially those that fall off the pedestal of international sport.
Former midfielder star Bunce, 58, has revealed to The AM Show how out-of-shape some of his former teammates had become since retirement.
"The first filming day, we got together and it was a shock to the system," he admits. "We did a body scan - 10 of us in this room, stripped down to our underpants, and you weigh yourself.
"People take off their tee shirts and you go 'holy hell'. It's actually almost embarrassing."
Former halfback Piri Weepu copped the most flack for his condition, although Bunce insists he dished out as good as he got.
Midfielder Pita Alatini, prop Craig Dowd and lock Troy Flavell were probably closest to 'match fit'.
"Some guys were really good and other guys were terrible," reflects Bunce. "Graham Henry told us Rome wasn't built in a day, let's just do this nice and slowly, and stay away from injury.
"We had mental health stuff and nutritionists - back in our day, it was harden up and get on with it."
As fitness picked up, the sessions became more competitive, although the players have yet to film the season climax - an actual game of four 15-minute quarters."
Bunce concedes improving condition is far easier with teammates around him.
"With all that support, it's easy, but the challenge will be when it's finished."
Since he retired in 1998, some of Bunce's contemporaries have died of complications associated with retirement - Springboks rival James Small, aged 50, and former All Blacks loose forward Dylan Mika, aged 45, both suffered fatal heart attacks.
"The whole thing is needless," says Bunce. "When we had our body scans and the trainer read back the results, it was terrible... all the fat around your organs."
Made with 'NZ On Air' funding, Match Fit will screen over October/November.
