There was nothing conventional about Nicky Allen or his brief All Black career.
He was picked as an injury replacement on the 1980 tour to Australia and then for the trip to Europe where the All Blacks were asked to play Wales in their centenary test.
Allen looked sharp and at ease with the turbulent demands of test rugby and was awarded a try in the All Blacks 23-3 win although there was some doubt whether he forced the ball.
That was it though. Two tests and Allen was done. We did not know it at the time but the flair and skill we witnessed from the five eighths in Cardiff would not be seen on an international field again.
He looked an uncommonly good talent, a left-footed player who preferred to run or outwit the opposition rather than indulge in tactical kicking contests.