Thorn aiming to bow out a winner

Brad Thorn will not allow sentiment to come into play when New Zealand try to beat France at Eden Park on Sunday and claim their first Rugby World Cup since 1987.

The second row is set to play in his 59th and final All Blacks Test after he decided to call time on his dual-code career before the tournament started.

"It will be very special for me whatever happens because this is my last game in the black jersey so it will be a pretty special time for me out there," Thorn said.

Should New Zealand lift the Webb Ellis Cup on Sunday it will cap a remarkable career that has featured two stints in both rugby union and rugby league.

After his family moved to Australia when he was eight, Thorn initially made his name with the Brisbane Broncos rugby league club, won two National Rugby League premierships and represented Australia.

Hard yards

He then signed with the New Zealand Rugby Union in 2001 and helped the All Blacks to the semi-finals of Rugby World Cup 2003. In 2005, though, he returned to league and won a third NRL title with the Broncos a year later.

Thorn came back to rugby union in 2008 and added two more Tri Nations titles in 2008 and 2010. As such, his experience of big matches will be crucial in keeping New Zealand emotions in check as the final draws nearer.

"At the Broncos we were made the favourites most times by the media," Thorn said.

"We just did the hard yards in the week and then come the game we played for each other because we cared about each other and on the day we got the job done."

Late try

Thorn has become something of a talisman for New Zealand at RWC 2011, having played in all six matches so far.

He scored his only try late on in the 33-10 win over Argentina in the quarter-finals, but it is his physicality and bruising presence around the pitch that has been most important for the All Blacks in their march to the final.

"You have to enjoy the moments," Thorn said. "A lot of work goes into a Test match and after a match you enjoy it, but you know there is another Test to come. Today we'll relax but come tomorrow we will start work again.

"Do you think anyone will care who won the semi-final? No, no one will care. It is what happens this weekend and we have got world-class opposition coming up against us."