There was a deep intake of breath from the assembled media contingent and a sense of 'did he just say what I think he said?'.
Yes. Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd had just described winger Cory Jane as one of the most intelligent rugby players he'd come across.
Boyd says the former All Black winger and self professed joker, who will play his 100th Super Rugby match against the Argentinian side the Jaguars on Saturday night has a great rugby brain ...although he wouldn't want team full of Cory Jane's.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd. Photo: Photosport
"He's been fantastic for this club. He's comfortably the most intelligent outside back that I have ever coached. He's got a massive understanding of the game that very few people appreciate.
"He has a very positive impact on a lot of other people as well.
"It's like all thing you've got to have a balance. If you had 30 Cory Jane's in your team it might be somewhat of a shambles but to have one or two is fantastic and he gets balanced out by other people's personalities," said Boyd.
Cory Jane believes he still has another couple of years of Super Rugby in him. Photo: Photosport
Jane who played his first game for the Hurricanes in 2007, said it's "cool" to bring up the 100 game milestone but its the competition, whether that's with his teamates or the opposition that keeps him going.
"I guess until the wingers absolutely carve me up and I look like a fool every weekend I'm still going to try and get better and try and improve.
"I hate losing. I'm competitive ...like if I was in a nappy changing competition for babies I'm going to win tjhat's just the way I am, so seeing these young guys (teamates) around and trying to take me on and call me 'old man' that gets under my skin and challenges me."
The 33 year old Jane believes he still has another couple of Super rugby seasons in him.
"I feel better than I have the last couple of years...guys are getting younger and faster and you don't see too many 33 year old wingers running around these days so I'll show them eh?"
He's realistic that after 53 tests his eight year All Black career is more than likely over.
"I still want to be an All Black ...and I am going to keep working hard to try and be one. If it doesn't happen then I had eight years of fun but I am still playing the game to try and get there."