He might also have been tempted to tell the bloke to butt out.
Instead, Ben McCarthy turned the other cheek, kept his cool and calmly landed a kick that sent him into the record books.
McCarthy (22) has never been so popular in the aftermath of his heroics for North Otago in its wild 89-23 win over Horowhenua-Kapiti in the Heartland Championship last Saturday.
His phone went ballistic purely because of the two big Old Golds records (most points in a game, and most conversions) he set in the game, obviously... oh, wait.
There is no way to avoid starting at the bottom with this story.
McCarthy unwittingly went viral at the weekend when a local rugby player who shall remain nameless shed his clothes and ran in front of the young winger just as he was about to kick - successfully - his 12th and final conversion in the final minute.
‘‘I’d seen him slowly jogging past,’’ McCarthy said.
‘‘It was quite funny because he said, ‘Sorry, Benny, it’s my birthday’, so I just decided to let him do what he was doing and take the kick.
‘‘We were up by a considerable margin, to be fair. I was fine with it. It was pretty funny.
‘‘The old phone was really blowing up for a few days. I got messages from nearly everyone.’’
Ironically, McCarthy had not even expected to be taking the goal kicks for the Old Golds.
He had assumed team-mate Levi Emery would have that responsibility.
‘‘Forrie [coach Jason Forrest] told me on Saturday morning that it would be me.
‘‘I had to go out pretty quickly and do some practice. Some weren’t coming out too great as well.
‘‘I suppose the first kick is the most important one.
‘‘You definitely know if you are striking them well. I was just sort of keeping my head down, following through and trying not to think too much about it.’’
That approach worked reasonably well.
When the dust cleared - and the pale pitch invader had made it to the other side - McCarthy had broken a 12-year-old North Otago record for conversions in a game and a 20-year-old record for points (29, as he added a try) in a game.
‘‘I had no idea. But as we were walking off the field, someone said, ‘hey, I think you’ve broken a record’. ‘‘Mean-as. I’ll take it.’’
There was a touch of serendipity as the record was broken right in front of the former co-holder, Simon Porter (no, he wasn’t the streaker).
McCarthy enjoyed a yarn with Porter and some other members of the champion 2002 Old Golds team having a reunion.
A first five by trade for the Alhambra-Union club, McCarthy has kept his place on the wing for North Otago’s tough game against Thames Valley in Whitianga today.
‘‘I’d definitely prefer to be at first five but I’m pretty happy to be playing anywhere.
‘‘I love chucking on the Old Golds jersey. It’s pretty cool to sort of represent the place I grew up.’’
McCarthy spent time at Totara, Glenavy and Papakaio before living in Oamaru, where he emerged as a real prospect for the St Kevin’s College First XV.
He later graduated from Otago Polytechnic with a bachelor of applied management, and is now working for Anderson Fencing.
North Otago has made four changes to its starting team for today’s game.
Emery returns to fullback, Josh Phipps becomes the fourth first five used, Alex Nettleton replaces Rohan Wingham at tighthead prop, and Hay-den Tisdall returns as hooker and captain in place of the unavailable Sam Sturgess.
Heartland Championship
Whitianga
Saturday at 2pm
NORTH OTAGO: Levi Emery, Ben McCarthy, Hayden Todd, Lemi Masoe, Mone Samate, Josh Phipps, Mataitini Feke, Junior Fakatoufifita, Josh Reid, Seta Koroitamana, Manulua Taiti, Ratu Logavatu, Alex Nettleton, Hayden Tisdall (captain), Kelepi Funaki.
Reserves: Leonard Varu, Sione Palaa, Jake Greenslade, Paea Fifita, Mat Duff, Jake Matthews, Inoke Naufahu, Matthew Vocea.
THAMES VALLEY: Telly Hemopo, Calum Wood, Harry Lafituanai, Sam McCahon, Will Newbold, Todd Doolan, Nui Muriwai, Tayne Tupaea, Ben Stephens, Laulea Mau Fangufangu, Connor McVerry (captain), Cam Dromgool, Tuakana Paitai, Blake Hill, Trinity McQueen.
Reserves: Zane Heath, Cody Muir, Patrick Aislabie, Luke Gilbert, Zach Clarke, Leroy Neels, Guy Lansdown, Zac Stephens.
