Rugby: Life after ABs is sweet for Evans

Nick Evans playing for the All Blacks against Romania in the 2007 World Cup. Photo / Brett Phibbs

This time last year, Nick Evans struggled with his emotions as he sat at Twickenham watching the All Blacks destroy England.

He couldn't quite come to terms with the fact he wasn't part of it any more; that he was no longer an All Black. It was an uncomfortable 80 minutes for him as the wave crashed home - he was a former All Black. At 28, he'd have to accept his test career had ended.

"I did some stuff for the BBC when they played Scotland and that was definitely a bit weird. Then I went to the England game and had mixed feelings. I wanted to be out there."

The All Black flame was still flickering in those first few months after he left New Zealand to join Harlequins in London. He didn't know how strongly until the All Blacks turned up on his doorstep and reminded him. It was like seeing an ex-girlfriend move on - it's easy to deal with, to forget all about until there is an actual sighting which sends a rush of memories, a rush of emotions through the system.

What left him vulnerable to this emotional blast was the fact he hadn't quite shut the door on his test dreams when he signed his contract to leave.

"Was I ready to leave? Probably not. I probably could have stayed to be honest. That was why it was such a tough decision. I wasn't forced to or anything like that. I sat down and worked out what would be the best thing for me."

The best thing, he decided, was to move on. He's honest enough now to reveal that the presence of Daniel Carter weighed heavily in his thinking.

"I could sit here and say there are a lot of reasons. That I came for the different culture, different people and money - all those kinds of things. But that [Carter] was definitely a big part of it. But life is tough, there is no point in crying about it.

"I gave the All Blacks a pretty good crack and when I sit down with my family and talk about it they tell me they are proud of what I achieved.

"Every time I had a chance I played pretty well."

It's easy to see why Evans hadn't quite made peace with his departure. Most players know when it is time to move on. Either their creaking body is telling them or the selectors are. The signals are normally clear.

For Evans, there were conflicting messages. He was, arguably, the pick of the All Black backs at the World Cup. One of the few who enhanced his reputation as he scorched across the grounds and showed why he was once rated by his former Highlanders coach Greg Cooper as the best running five-eighth in the world.