'I don't care where I play, as long as I'm here,' says Evans

Fullback Nick Evans is so excited about playing for the All Blacks that he would happily pack down in the front row, but he remains wary of a "utility" tag that is starting to stick.

The 23-year-old Auckland-trained physiotherapist will make his first international start in the second test against England on Saturday due to the injury to winger Doug Howlett, something he described as "the dream of dreams".

"It's a shame, Dougie's a great player, but my opportunity has come now," said Evans, whose joy was tinged with some caution.

His lively pace means he will cover wing in the case of injury, a position far from the role he ultimately hopes to play - first five-eighths.

"Wing is probably not one of my first-choice positions - you get labelled a utility," he said, adding that the label could yet impact negatively on his career.

"They say it can be a bad thing and a good thing. It hasn't been a bad thing so far because it's got me here.

"But maybe long-term, as I get older, I might want to try and make my name in one position."

All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith said Evans had the right skills for fullback.

"Nick's a bright young man and he's very good at organising the back three."

Evans revelled in his 16 minutes on debut off the bench in the first test at Dunedin, even if his first touch saw him lowered by a head-high tackle from Lawrence Dallaglio.

The North Shore-born and bred player expects high demand from friends and extended family for tickets to the Eden Park test.

Certainly on hand will be his parents - including father John, who spent $1200 on a one-day package flight to Dunedin last weekend to see his son - and younger brother Andrew, his sole sibling.

Evans attended Westlake Boys High School - Frano Botica was the last old boy to play for the All Blacks - but played for the 1st XV only in his final year.

Evans is contracted to North Harbour again for this year's NPC and will decide after that whether to continue there or accept an offer to move to Otago.

- NZPA