All Blacks: Longshot Ranger ready for the Boks

Rene Ranger. Photo / Getty Images

Had the TAB opened a pre-season book on Rene Ranger being an All Black, the wing admits he would have been at massive odds to make the team.

But yesterday he was elevated to start on the left wing against the Springboks when Blues teammate Joe Rokocoko failed a fitness test on his dodgy hamstring.

Ranger started just twice on the wing for the Blues this season, playing at centre while Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf occupied the flanks.

Ranger's swift elevation to test rugby, amid some curious "Superman" references from assistant Wayne Smith, surprised the 23-year-old Northlander.

"I did not know I had the goods to be an All Black, I am still pinching myself," he said.

"My mates and family are still hitting me up and saying 'you are an All Black' and I'm going 'I'm just Rene'."

He was on standby, then drafted in for the test against Wales in Hamilton and given his test legs for 15 minutes off the bench.

Even then his place in the Tri-Nations squad was uncertain but he made the cut while Zac Guildford was chopped, with Wulf and Hosea Gear overlooked.

"I have just got to express myself," Ranger said.

He just wanted to get out on to the Cake Tin after the uncertainty about starting then the flood of information he had been subjected to from the coaching staff.

"What I do has got me in their team so when I get an opportunity I just hope to have a crack," he said.

Plenty of advice had come his way this week about where he needed to be on attack and defence and the game plans the All Blacks had for the repeat test against the Springboks.

Ranger followed an unconventional route to test rugby.

After school at Rodney College, he worked for the Ministry of Works and played some part-time footy. He preferred to hang out with his mates, shovelling metal and working the roads during the day before party times at night.

His rugby began to take on a more serious hue when he made the Northland under-19s then the national sevens side under Gordon Tietjens.

"He told me that could open doors and help me go a long way," Ranger recalled.

About two years ago Ranger decided to knuckle down a bit and give rugby more of his time. He reduced his booze intake and increased his training, decisions he has relished this season.

He was twitchy after his Hamilton callup but reckons this week has been better.

"For my first start against South Africa, they are one of the best teams in the world. But there is a lot of pressure off my back now I know I am starting. I can't wait to get out there and do my stuff.

"This is better preparation."