Bristol chairman Malcolm Pearce hopes that some words of encouragement from fellow All Black Frank Bunce will persuade Jonah Lomu to join the West Country outfit.
Bristol are confident Lomu will join them in a reported £1.1 million deal - despite firm offers from Premiership rivals London Irish and rugby league side Wakefield.
They say the World Cup star, whose All Black contract has expired, could sign a contract with them by the end of the week.
Injury-plagued Wallabies hero Stephen Larkham, 25, has admitted that his international rugby future is in doubt because of a knee injury.
Larkham acknowledged the physical toll had brought on thoughts of retiring from international rugby.
A shattered New Zealand team and their devastated coach received a lukewarm welcome on their return home yesterday after their disastrous rugby World Cup. John Hart, who has quit as coach, said the All Blacks had been hurt on hearing criticism that they "didn't show enough pride and passion" during the all-important final stages of the tournament".
Meanwhile, deposed world champions South Africa returned home to a heroes' welcome from hundreds of fans yesterday as a newspaper editorial urged coach Nick Mallet, who has had his contract extended for another two years, to stand down.
