Go-forward No 8's reverse theory

Rodney So'oialo has a different version of the old All Black selection theory. Remember the line about it being harder to get into the team than out.

That does not work for the 25-year-old Wellington No 8.

"Getting into the team is the easy part," he suggested, "the difficulty is staying there because injuries and form all play a part."

A look through So'oialo's playing record verifies his fears.

This is the fourth season he has been picked for the All Blacks, but tonight's test against Fiji at Albany will be only his 10th international.

He made his debut against Wales in 2002 at Cardiff, when coach John Mitchell took away a depleted group, and has never really nailed the spot since.

Mitchell went for So'oialo again on his home ground in 2003, when the All Blacks played England on a foul night in the capital. The All Blacks and So'oialo came off second best.

"It was a rough night for all of us. They were a bigger team who wanted it a little bit more than we did," the No 8 recalled.

It was a night when he played against Lawrence Dallaglio for the first time, a player he had in his sights again for the test series against the Lions until the touring vice-captain broke his ankle against Bay of Plenty.

"When I saw it happen, I automatically knew he had done something bad," So'oialo said. "I know the pain and the frustration he is probably going through at the moment."

That is no gratuitous sympathy from So'oialo, who suffered a similar injury during the Super 12 when his ankle was damaged in the Hurricanes' first home game against the Bulls.

"Mine did not break but I damaged the ligaments around the area and had several games off. I worked really hard with the trainers to get it right, but it is still not 100 per cent."

After the All Blacks lost that 2003 test to England in the run-up to the World Cup, the national selectors had a rethink and replaced So'oialo with his provincial mate Jerry Collins.

There were only a couple of bit-part roles for So'oialo at the tournament in Australia, and then last season the new All Blacks panel of Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and Sir Brian Lochore chose Xavier Rush and Mose Tuiali'i as their backrow forwards.

Only a stirring NPC and the panel's decision to broaden their player base got So'oialo into the extended squad travelling to Europe late last year.

There was a test start against Wales, but as a blindside flanker, until So'oialo was announced as the No 8 for the test of the tour against France.

It was a staggering night for the All Blacks as they won 45-6 against an uninspired French side. So'oialo scored a try and was a storming component of the All Blacks' aggressive approach.

But it was back to the start again this year with the same competition from Tuiali'i, Rush, Collins and Steven Bates.

As part of his preparation, So'oialo has canvassed the rugby intellects of old sweats and former loose forwards like Colin Cooper, Murray Mexted, John Plumtreee and Lochore, men who have played the position in a number of eras.

Was he worried when he was rested for the national trial?

"I am always a player who feels you have to earn your spot, and obviously I wanted to get back in because the All Blacks are where I want to be. No 8 is the position I want to shoot for, but there are a lot of guys around."

While So'oialo respects Dallaglio, he did not want to emulate his style.

He craved the experience and top-level tests Dallaglio had been involved in but did not fashion his game on that of the muscular Englishman.

"I have my own style of game and do not want to necessarily play like him. I want to take out some aspects of his game, that is only sensible, but I do not want to change greatly the way I play because that is the reason you get picked in the first place."

Tonight at Albany, So'oialo will face off against Sisa Koyamaibole, a burly, hard-running player who made an impact last season for Counties Manukau and the Pacific Islanders.

"We will have to keep tight, work hard as a total pack to try and create quality ball for our fast boys," So'oialo said. "We will want to be accurate, do the sensible basics of rugby, eliminate our mistakes and use this very much as a stepping stone for the Lions series."