League: Issac Luke filling Piri Weepu-type role for Kiwis

Captain Issac Luke is about to become the Kiwis `anything and everything man' in the three-test series against England. Photo/Getty.

If everything goes to plan for the Kiwis in England over the next few weeks, brace yourself for some Issac Luke inspired tribute t-shirts.

What Piri Weepu was to the 2011 All Blacks, Luke is to this current Kiwis team.

We all remember Weepu's amazing contribution to that campaign; with players falling over all around him, Weepu become the backline mainstay. Taking kick-offs, knocking over penalties and conversions and calling the plays to guide the younger men outside him. That role - especially after the quarter final victory over Argentina - even spawned t-shirts in his honour.

In much the same vein, Luke is about to become the Kiwis `anything and everything man' in this test series against England. In fact, he has got even more on his plate.

He's likely to be sole skipper of the team, with co-captain Adam a doubtful starter for the first test.

Like Weepu, Luke will be on the field for up to 80 minutes and will touch the ball more than any other Kiwis player.

Against Leeds last week Luke kicked more in general play than the rest of the spine (Tui Lolohea, Peta Hiku and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck) put together, and was the goal kicker until he was replaced in the final quarter.

Luke takes the kickoffs, and instigates a lot of attacks with his direct running up the middle. And if that is not enough, he has to guide rookie halves Lolohea and Hiku through their first experience at this level.

The similarities with Weepu don't stop there. Like the former All Blacks halfback, Luke leads the Kiwis haka and has taken the initiative in bringing a new haka into the environment, and both men spent large parts of their lives in the capital. And perhaps most pertinently, Luke - like Weepu four years ago - doesn't seem burdened by the extra responsibilities on his shoulders.

"To be honest I'm looking forward to it," said Luke. "I've got a job to do...like everyone else, and that is what I need to focus on. I'm so proud to be leading these boys."

Luke is the kind of player that likes to be involved, that needs to be around the ball, but the Kiwis have to make sure he is not over-worked.

He'll already have a huge defensive load on Sunday (Monday morning NZT), as well as being the focal point of the attack.

He's the Kiwis most irreplaceable player; England know if they shut down the number nine, they'll blunt the New Zealand team.

"He's world class and they play a lot of their shape through Issac," said English counterpart James Roby.

"He gets a lot of the forward pack rolling down field and he is obviously very important..he's a key figure for them. We know that and we are going to have to make sure we take control of him on the night."

Fellow English forward Tom Burgess counts Luke as one of his 'best mates', after their time together at the Rabbitohs and is equally wary of the 28-year-old.

"[Off the field] he's still a bit of a joker...most people would say he is a bit of a pest," laughed Burgess. "But he's a great competitor and we will need to watch him; he will be one of their biggest threats. He's more of a leader now and he has taken on that role and he is doing well."

Luke has always harboured ambitions of being captain of his country but it seemed an unlikely scenario.

He had a chequered past on the field, with some infamous incidents on his CV and a fair few suspensions.

But a combination of his increasing maturity - and circumstances with the incumbent leaders - have seen the man from Hawera gain the armband.

And you sense - just like Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki, Quentin Pongia before him - he'll be an even better player as captain.