Bok to the future for South African-born All Black

Greg Rawlinson at training in Hamilton this week. Picture / Alan Gibson

There's a notable pause when Greg Rawlinson is asked what it would be like to play a rugby test against the Springboks.

Making his debut for the All Blacks against Ireland tonight is something the towering lock takes in his powerful stride but the possibility of lining up against his countrymen provides extra food for thought.

"It would be tough but, if I had to face up to that challenge, I'd be up to it," says the man whose heart still beats heavily for his family in Durban and who has grown up following the Springboks with typical passion.

"I really love South Africa and the people there. It's where I grew up. I'll never forget that," he said. "I suppose it is pretty bizarre but I suppose, when I left South Africa the first time, my direction changed and it's not one single focus."

The 27-year-old, who came to New Zealand four years ago, has learned to be a pragmatist. He has developed a close affinity for New Zealand, unashamedly grateful for the rugby opportunity it has provided. And Rawlinson hopes the people of South Africa will adopt the same approach to his decision to chase a place in the All Blacks, their greatest sporting rivals.

He reckons the days are gone when fanatical Bok supporters and even players took personal affront at those who switched allegiances. Recent examples of those harshly labelled traitors are Wallabies Clyde Rathbone and Daniel Vickerman and English cricketer Kevin Pietersen.

"I think they do accept it, if it's done in the right way," Rawlinson says. "As long as you say the right things and do the right things, you could be well received from people in South Africa.

"There are South Africans living all over the world now doing different jobs, so why should rugby - although it's a very passionate game - be any different?"

One group who have taken no convincing are his rugby-mad family, who still live in Durban. "They support me.

"They're all buying All Blacks jerseys and things like that. Family comes first for them, which is really awesome."

Rawlinson has been joined this week by his mother Beverly and uncle Don Spiers, who played hooker for Natal during the 1970s. They will be notable for their enormous grins at Waikato Stadium tonight. Like the only other South African-born All Black, Andrew Mehrtens, Rawlinson entered the world in Durban.

As a child he would regularly watch Natal and the Springboks play at nearby Kings Park but his playing career was a slow burn.

He didn't star at school and took a year off rugby to put some bulk on a "skinny" frame.

The thought of moving never entered his head until he found out Bay of Plenty were looking for a lock in 2002 and he decided it was time for a change. On returning home after the NPC, Rawlinson played a handful of Super 12 games for the Sharks a year later.

However, he enjoyed what New Zealand offered and, in May 2003, signed a two-year contract with North Harbour.

"I didn't really like living in a smaller place like Tauranga," Rawlinson says. "I'm from Durban, which is a bigger city, so I thought if I came back it would have to be to a bigger place like Auckland.

"Originally it was pure rugby. I didn't really settle in straight away. It took me a while to get into the New Zealand way of things. But after I'd been here a couple of years it became a lifestyle thing."

He impressed instantly for Harbour, earning a Super 12 contract with the Blues, and has been a regular at the franchise since.

Nicknamed "Dolph" because he looks like Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren, Rawlinson has earned a reputation for his no-nonsense style on the field. He is rarely sighted out wide, instead preferring to hurl a solid 2m frame into countless rucks and tackles, while also hitting the ball up with aggression.

The All Blacks selectors have been bound to wait for his three-year residency criteria to expire before he became eligible.

He was given the all-clear for selection just two days before the giant All Blacks squad was announced last week. Throwing angst into the mix late last year for Rawlinson was an approach by South African coach Jake White to go on the Springboks' tour of Europe.

It was an enormous temptation - but one Rawlinson had to decline due to uncertainty over whether he would be offered a regular domestic contract in South Africa.

"[White] was keen to get me back there but I'm not quite sure where I would have stood once I got back there," he says.

"He couldn't promise me anything so there was a bit of a grey area. It made it pretty hard to give up everything and go back."

Once again, his family provided the perfect sounding board.

"They were all happy for me to stay in New Zealand. South African rugby, sometimes you're not sure what's going to happen."

Will he have any regrets about the decision?

Not this week. Not as he immerses himself in the All Blacks' way in Hamilton, his enthusiasm prompting forwards coach Steve Hansen to describe him as "like a kid in a candy store".

Away from rugby, he thinks he's made the right call as well.

"I miss part of the lifestyle at home, New Zealand is quite different.

"But there are huge positives in New Zealand which South Africa doesn't have. It depends how you look at it, really."

- NZPA