You all know about my love affair with the greatest English rugby player ever, right? But you don't know yet how I started cheating on him (sorry, Jonny!)

Everything actually started during the 2003 World Cup. We were in Australia with my parents at that time and one day, as we were sightseeing in Brisbane (where there isn't much to sight-see, by the way), I recognised someone. "Dad, I know that guy, but I can't remember his name," I said. The guy was that Kiwi-Froggy rugby hero... Tony Marsh.

A very good New Zealand rugby player (he played for Auckland Blues, Canterbury Crusaders and even for the NZ Maoris), he chose to leave his country and came to live and play in France. That's why I knew him ... he wasn't an All Black but un Bleu!

Marsh wasn't supposed to play in this particular World Cup. Indeed, he had an op for testicular cancer earlier that season. But he took his time and booked his ticket to Australia and for the World Cup. I still love Tony (even if he is not un Bleu any more and even if it may be his last professional season in Montferrand).

For the 'little final' (after the All Blacks and les Bleus lost in semis), he wasn't the French captain but since it was his first match against his former countrymen, his teammates allowed him the privilege of taking the field first. He even smiled during the Haka ... and France lost!

A year later, the All Blacks were touring Europe. Italy first: in Rome, they seemed to have fun on and off the field (new Haka leader Rico Gear, huge victory and attending an AS Roma football match). Then a little trip to the UK before coming back to the continent and meeting me for real ... well, to be honest, they offered me a great birthday present (paid for by my parents!)

I still don't know how, but we got tickets for this incredible match, where once again I was pointed out as the "bad girl supporting the enemy". Yet when you are French, it's easier supporting the ABs than Jonny Wilkinson and his friends - although if I were an Aussie, that would be another story.

So I was the 'bad girl' and my team won! The whole country discovered a new No.10 (whom I had followed over the previous year) - Dan Carter. He was the Wilko for Canterbury - not the Kent one, but from sheep territory near Otago, 20,000 kilometres away. Carter was voted Player of the Year in 2005 by his colleagues in New Zealand and also across the world.

In November 2006, France started to become obsessed with the upcoming presidential elections but rugby fans focused on the two Test matches on November 11 and 18 against the best team in the world. It was the 100th anniversary of the first meeting between France and New Zealand.

I still don't know how, but a week before the first match in Lyon, we once again got tickets. Olympique Lyonnais FC had played there the day before and the stands had not been cleaned for the rugby match. But we won! Captain Richie McCaw even scored a try which nobody had seen in the stand where I was (they don't show replays on the screens at French grounds).

At half-time, we had an interview from the greatest All Black ever - Jonah Lomu. He was recovering from a serious illness and like Tony, won't play the 2007 World Cup. But he will remain in our hearts for ever!
Before the end of the month, captain McCaw was to lead a Haka (the one in Paris), get a yellow card in Wales for being offside too many times and be elected Player of the Year by his peers all around the world. What a great year for this little farming boy!

In 2007, McCaw is still the ABs captain. Like 22 of his teammates, he can't play the Super 14 (Southern Hemisphere championship) before Day 8 - legacy of coach Graham Henry. Like 30 of his teammates, he has only one thing in mind - playing a great World Cup match in Marseille on September 8 (I will be there!) and a way-better match in Paris on October 20. I will be in Ireland, but I will watch you guys!

All the men I am referring to in this article have one common point. No, it's not their passports – it’s their heart. They are very humble and deserve the greatest respect for what they do on and off the field.
If you want more information about the All Blacks' captain, check http://richie-mccaw.blogspot.com