29 Facts About Andrew Mehrtens

Andrew Philip Mehrtens was born on 28 April 1973 and is a New Zealand former rugby union player.

Andrew Mehrtens was regarded as a top first five-eighth, having played first for Canterbury in 1993, before being selected for the All Blacks in 1995 when he played in the 1995 World Cup.

Andrew Mehrtens first joined Harlequins in England, where in his first season he played a major factor in leading the freshly relegated club to an immediate return to the top-level Guinness Premiership.

Andrew Mehrtens grew up in Christchurch, attended Christchurch Boys' High School where he played in the 1st XV, and played Junior Grade Rugby for Kaiapoi.

Andrew Mehrtens recalled, when he was aged 10, his Kaiapoi team playing a match at Lancaster Park as a curtain raiser to the Ranfurly Shield match between Canterbury and Mid Canterbury.

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Andrew Mehrtens represented New Zealand at under-19 and under-21 levels.

Andrew Mehrtens's grandfather, George Mehrtens, played for Canterbury in the 1920s as a fullback and was an All Black in unofficial internationals against New South Wales in 1928.

Andrew Mehrtens was a New Zealand under-23 player in 1965 against the Springboks and again in 1967, and while in South Africa played as a fullback for Natal against the 1970 All Blacks.

Some headed by Colin Meads believed that Andrew Mehrtens was the best in his position ever produced by New Zealand.

Andrew Mehrtens was seen as lacking the physique or inclination to mix it physically, either taking the ball up or committing himself to the tackle.

Outside the playing field, Andrew Mehrtens proved to be a favourite with fans and a large section of the media because of his pleasant manner, his intelligence, and his wit and sense of humour.

Andrew Mehrtens played in the Crusaders sides which won the Super 12 titles of 2002 and 2005, even though in the final season he was now playing second fiddle to his protege Daniel Carter.

Andrew Mehrtens was a huge contributor to Canterbury at National Provincial Championship levels, with his inside back partnership with half-back Justin Marshall becoming celebrated.

Andrew Mehrtens played in three NPC winning sides in 1997,2001 and 2004.

Andrew Mehrtens battled to make the Crusaders then and in 2004 and was left out of the All Blacks for the 2003 season, though many believed he should have been recalled for the World Cup.

Andrew Mehrtens eventually did win his All Black place back for a brief period in 2004, but by then it had become clear that the immediate future belonged to Carter.

Andrew Mehrtens left behind a formidable record: 281 first class games for 3,178 points, 108 games for Canterbury for 1,056 points, 87 for the Crusaders and 981 points, 72 games for the All Blacks and 967 points in 70 tests.

Andrew Mehrtens debuted for the All Blacks in 1995 and made an immediate impact, scoring 28 points against Canada in his Test debut; at that time, that was the highest point total ever by a player making his international debut.

Andrew Mehrtens featured in the team that played in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final against South Africa and came within inches of claiming victory for New Zealand, with a drop goal attempt veering just wide of the posts at the end of regulation time.

Andrew Mehrtens is currently the second all-time points scorer for the All Blacks, with 967 points, having been overtaken by Dan Carter on 21 November 2009.

Andrew Mehrtens has scored 20 or more points in 13 separate Tests, has scored nine penalties in two separate Tests, and is currently the only player to have scored over 300 points in the Tri Nations Series.

Andrew Mehrtens was not included in the 2005 All Black squad to face the British and Irish Lions.

In Super 12, Andrew Mehrtens was a key member of the dominant Crusaders side that won the competition four times in five years, and in 2005, another successful year for the Crusaders, he played well, making regular appearances off the bench and starting in a few games.

Andrew Mehrtens was on three NPC-winning Canterbury sides, in 1997,2001 and 2004.

Andrew Mehrtens is credited with reestablishing the Canterbury region as a force in New Zealand rugby again after nine years in the wilderness when in 1994 he generaled a young team who won the Ranfurly Shield off Waikato.

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Andrew Mehrtens won his way into the team having displaced Greg Coffey in the Canterbury A team.

On 23 May 2007, Andrew Mehrtens joined French Pro D2 team Toulon, who went on to win the league title that season and gain promotion to the Top 14.

Andrew Mehrtens moved to the Federale 1 side Beziers, signing a three-year deal with the club.

Under his contract, Andrew Mehrtens has the option to move into the club's coaching staff once he decides to end his playing career.