All Blacks: Stanley keeps his mind on All Black job

Benson Stanley had his commerce degree under his belt before embarking on a rugby career. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Tot up the midfield IQ in the All Blacks and it's right up there.

A Benson Stanley and Conrad Smith partnership offers commerce and legal qualifications in what might be one of the more qualified test centre combinations. They both operate with the precision, planning and concentration which went into their tertiary education.

Stanley certainly thinks his strongest sporting asset is his mind but he notes it can create problems as well.

"Your mind can play tricks on you," he said as he assembled this week with the All Blacks.

"It can concentrate you, but it can also stuff me up at times because I can get too obsessed with getting something right and I do not give myself a break. I can get down on myself about not doing things I want to achieve.

"My mind has been strong in driving me to where I want to go, but sometimes it can go too far. It is a matter of trying to temper that, sitting down and saying 'that was not too flash' but there were many other good things. I have to make sure I do not dwell too long on any negatives."

Stanley's elevation to the All Blacks came after a swag of other midfield contenders fell to injury or took up overseas contracts. The 25-year-old still gave himself little show of emulating his All Black uncle Joe Stanley.

But he's now been immersed in the All Black culture for several days, sifting all the information from his new bosses and teammates. He had only met a few of his new buddies. It promised to be daunting, but Stanley knew he had to throw himself into the scene.

He had been preaching inclusion from his Auckland squad, now he had to live by those preachings with the All Blacks.

Stanley might have begun his provincial career eight years ago but he has only ticked off three seasons of Super 14 involvement. Two really, as he tore his hamstring from the bone in the Blues first game last year and missed the rest of the tournament.

Stanley took the less conventional path of collecting his commerce degree before he started to put more time into his rugby. It was a similar track his cousin, Jeremy Stanley, had pursued as his medical studies combined then kicked in when his brief All Black career ended in injury.

"Jeremy was always big on study," Stanley said. "I've seen him sitting, working in his room all day and saw the importance of education when he got hurt. I don't know if that has rubbed off on me and he has never pushed it hard on me but he was an example. He's a decade older than me and a strong role model. He was definitely an influence, no doubt about it."

Now Benson Stanley looms as the starting second five-eighths for next week's opening test against Ireland in New Plymouth. He is one of five uncapped players in a squad facing some serious inspection.

"I have to try and throw myself into everything," Stanley said. "If we want to win and build towards what we want to achieve, it will require everyone contributing to the team environment. Irrespective of whether we are new or old, we have to make sure if we have something to say, we do.

"I can be shy or standoffish, but I'm working on it."

There would be All Black teammates with more than 80 test caps and that could be intimidating. However, he had to remember the advice he had given his Auckland teammates. He wanted everyone to be on the same footing.

"We all had to be equals because we all need each other so we all need to work together and be on the same page. If you are being quiet you are not contributing. It is daunting but it is time to put my money where my mouth is."

Until this week's selection, Stanley was eligible for the Wallabies and Manu Samoa as well. He was born in Wollongong, raised in Brisbane but came to Auckland as a primary schooler. While he has multiple bloodline qualifications, Stanley felt more comfortable about trying to play for New Zealand.

He went to university after school, became a father not long after his 21st birthday and was a fringe provincial player.

He changed majors in his degree and attempted a conjoined qualification. He finished his chartered accountancy work and got through half a property degree before rugby took over.

"At least I've got that flexibility now, I have given myself a bit of time to mull over some ideas while I play some rugby.

"I've enjoyed it, it was something different and I survived. It was important I pulled my weight and looked after my family. I thought I could always train hard, play my rugby and see where it goes because I have a career to fall back on," he said. "I got picked up as a professional by the Blues and it sure beats working in an office."