It was wheel-the-new-All Blacks-out day on Auckland's North Shore yesterday as Campbell Johnstone, James Ryan and Sosene Anesi faced the glare of the cameras for the first time in their All Black careers.
The prop, the lock and the winger-turned-fullback have travelled different paths to reach their goal but have
one thing in common: the path has pointed south.
Travelling furthest was Anesi, whose trip started in Apia, Samoa and ended in Hamilton where he was awarded a rugby scholarship to St John's College five years ago.
He started making a name for himself in Waikato's NPC squad last season as a try-scoring freak and was described by Graham Henry yesterday as the fastest man playing rugby in the country.
"As we slower fellas know, there is no substitute for pace," Henry said.
Anesi can't believe the pace either, in particular the speed in which his career has taken off, particularly since he moved to fullback for the Chiefs this year - a move which gave him more space and freedom to exhibit his wares.
"I've had an awesome week last week. Training down in Napier was really good, then I come back here and can't believe I'm actually in the team," the softly spoken Samoan said. "Everything's just been going really fast and it's a big surprise.
"At the beginning of this year I was concentrating on playing good rugby and having a good season.
"After that I got the news from the boys that I was playing good so I thought I'd give myself another goal and see what happens after that. It's been awesome."
Being a prop, Campbell Johnstone is less prone to using words like awesome. To be honest, he's less prone to using words at all. His journey started in Waipukurau and ended, like his fellow Hawke's Bay-raised Crusaders team-mate Greg Somerville, at Lincoln University.
Johnstone was a bolter in the squad, having his strong right shoulder praised by the selectors after a dominating performance in the scrums on Friday night. Johnstone thought a spot in the New Zealand A team was about the best he could hope for this year.
He also works about "10 to 15 hours a week" for a valuing company. Has he been tempted to give it away and concentrate on rugby?
"I dunno. They've probably been quite tempted to sack me."
Another of the new breed to combine outside interests with rugby is Highlanders lock James Ryan.
"It's been an incredible ride really. Six months ago I was just hoping I'd pick up a Super 12 contract and maybe get the odd game to get some experience," Ryan said.
Ryan is one year from finishing a double law and economics degree at Otago, a few hundred kilometres south of his home province of Canterbury.
"Rugby, for the past two or three years, has been my major priority. Sometimes university will have to take precedence but when there's a game coming up you've got to put in the hours of training. It's a matter of managing it."
Ryan credits his selection on the Highlanders surprise early form in the Super 12.
"I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for that good run to be honest. In saying that, with guys like Anton [Oliver] and Carl [Hoeft] having amazing seasons it's made my job a hell of a lot easier."
Oliver in particular has been instrumental in his rise, both picking him out in the lineouts and showing him the ropes.
"I'm always learning off the way he handles things and pop him the odd question here and there, trying to find out how things are done around here."
He could have warned him about the cameras too.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
Campbell Johnstone
It was wheel-the-new-All Blacks-out day on Auckland's North Shore yesterday as Campbell Johnstone, James Ryan and Sosene Anesi faced the glare of the cameras for the first time in their All Black careers.
The prop, the lock and the winger-turned-fullback have travelled different paths to reach their goal but have
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