Benson hopes to emulate 'Smokin' Joe

Former All Black Joe Stanley (left) with his nephew Benson Stanley, who's hoping to get back into the All Blacks. Photo / Brett Phibbs

It has been 24 years since "Smokin" Joe Stanley won a Rugby World Cup medal, but now another member of the family hopes to be part of the All Black squad setting out to win another.

Nephew Benson Stanley is in contention for a place in an All Black squad desperate to win the Webb Ellis Cup final at Eden Park on October 23.

In the 1987 tournament, Joe Stanley starred for the All Blacks as the home side won their maiden world title by beating France 29-9.

Centre Benson, an All Black already, played for the Blues against the Chiefs on Saturday - his first match since recovering from a concussion.

Uncle Joe says he is hopeful his nephew will make the World Cup team. "There's obviously a lot going on before that happens. But should he make the final squad, it would be absolutely fantastic."

Joe says the whole family are proud of Benson's rugby achievements.

Benson Stanley is a spokesman for Men's Health Week, which runs from Monday.

The annual campaign will raise awareness of issues ranging from lifestyle and wellbeing to physical, mental, emotional and sexual health.

Organisers are encouraging men to start simply with daily exercise and a yearly check-up with a GP.

Stanley said that, as a Men's Health Week spokesman, the emphasis was on education and creating awareness.

"If we can try to address health issues at an early stage, then it bodes well for the future."

Stanley said he was philosophical about his World Cup chances, and that staying healthy would be important not just for the rest of the season, but beyond his career.

He was focusing on regaining match fitness for the Auckland side ahead of international aspirations.

"I'm not really thinking about what I can bring to the All Blacks at the moment; I'm just thinking about what I can bring to the Blues.

"There are some fantastic midfielders out there, and they all bring something different. Ma'a Nonu is explosive, Sonny Bill Williams has the ability to offload in all sorts of positions and put people in space."

Stanley said his uncle's 1987 team were "out of this world" and added that making the All Blacks again would be special in its own right, regardless of family history with the team.

Joe Stanley said the sport had changed since his time as an All Black.

"It's a professional sport now and these guys are training four to five hours a day. In our day, we had to train after work. That's not to say we weren't fit, but we weren't the highly tuned athletes that these guys are."

The pair agreed that if Isaia Toeava is fit and on song, he could be a key player for the All Blacks. "I think he showed enough in the first few rounds of the Super 15 to show that he is probably going to be a superstar at the World Cup," said Joe Stanley. "But only if he can be on the field."

Both men were wary of the threat posed by the Wallabies. "You just have to look at the way the Reds are going," Benson Stanley said.

When predicting a winner for this year's World Cup, Benson Stanley was quick to back the All Blacks. But his uncle said injuries could play a big part in the make-up of a lot of sides.

"I think there are probably five teams that could win it - the Southern Hemisphere [sides], France and England."

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