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New Zealand`s Bledisloe Cup dented

Monday 24th November 2008

Dented: Carter's looks can't hide the obvious ding in the cup

It weighs 21.6kg and is the most precious trophy in the All Blacks' cabinet, but it is not quite as it should be.

The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup again this year, wrapping up the four game series 3-1 with a victory in Hong Kong earlier this month.

However, the problem was noticed when New Zealand beat Australia in Brisbane in the final game of the 2008 Tri-Nations.

The trophy had a visible dent in it, and may have been a result of the players letting the fans touch the trophy when they were parading it around the Suncorp Stadium.

New Zealand Rugby Union communications manager Brian Finn told NZPA the highly-visible damage happened shortly after the game - won by the All Blacks 28-24.

Somehow it came back with a "fairly big ding" in it, he said.

Mr Finn said it was inevitable such a large trophy would get damaged and there had been similar incidents previously.

The Bledisloe Cup is 'reconditioned' at least once a year.

"It's not the first time and it won't be the last," he said.