Goodwill stories about the All Blacks have been regular warm touches around the World Cup with Sonny Bill Williams’ gold medal transfer to a young fan, one of the enduring moments of the final.
Up in the Twickenham stands, Kiwi Katrina Haberfield had applauded Beauden Barrett’s match‑sealing try with more emotional energy than anyone in the 80,125 crowd.
Her signed All Black jersey and other regalia hid some enduring discomfort and a drain from surgery as she sat next to Kieran Read’s brother and watched the All Blacks win successive tournaments.
Her delight rose even further in the final minutes when Barrett chased down an attacking clearing kick to crown the 34‑17 victory with the last try.
Barrett got tickets to the final for Haberfield and her English husband Steve after being in their hair salon at nearby Whitton in the early stages of the tournament and hearing about their rugby passion and Haberfield’s health issues.
Barrett had asked why they had an All Black jersey on the wall and during the conversation, Steve Haberfield revealed how his Kiwi wife was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.
It turned out Barrett knew Katrina’s sister.
Haberfield refused to charge Barrett so the five eighth offered to take the All Black jersey and get it signed by his All Black teammates.
A week before the final, the shirt came back signed while Barrett had also autographed his numbered tournament cap with his best wishes.
Katrina had more surgery on Thursday before the trans‑Tasman tournament decider but with tickets from Barrett for that match, nothing was going to stop her attendance.
The extended family said in their cyber messages about Barrett’s kindness - "What wonderful men the All Blacks are".
Source: stuff.co.nz
