KEY POINTS:
Two hours before the start of last week's test against France, Troy Flavell was involved in a question and answer session at an inner-city Wellington hotel.
When he got to the ground, he was helping the team's lineout and defensive drills when Keith Robinson reinjured his calf muscle.
"I got told and didn't even have time to strap up properly, I just went out there onto the bench. It was pretty quick, I didn't get much warning."
Flavell had time to get lifting bandages strapped to his thighs but in the rush did not have time to strap his ankles or swap his everyday boxers for lycra underpants.
Those circumstances, as much as anything, were a test for Flavell when he was called from the bench after 28 minutes to replace Ali Williams who had broken his jaw.
Flavell prefers set routines for matches, he does not like to break his plans and gets pretty anal about his preparation. But the drama of last week might have shifted his mindset for the better.
"Initially I was unsettled by it all but once I was out there for a little bit you got into the groove of the game. The prep was not as good as it could have been but it could have been a good thing, getting it dumped on me.
"I felt like I went all right, so all these years of being so pedantic about my prep went out the window. I am a real creature of habit. My week has to be exactly the same and I really worry about that.
"My wife, Sheree, was giving me a bit of stick about it after the game especially about wearing boxers instead of my tights."
Flavell was fortunate times had changed. It isn't so long ago that those outside the playing day 22, the dirty-dirties, would be sorting out whose turn it was to get the pre-match drinks and pies to savour in the comfort of the grandstand.
"It was pretty hard case," he says. "I had done a weights session in the morning and then the talk at the hotel and when I got to the ground, I went and helped the guys warm up."
Within an hour, Flavell went from spare part to locking the scrum for nearly 50 minutes with another replacement Chris Jack.
Tomorrow against Canada in Hamilton, utility lock Flavell is cast as the senior All Black lock alongside rookie Ross Filipo who has been called up from Junior All Black duty.
"It is a great challenge for me. We are a few starting locks down so I am more than happy to fulfil that role. I am right in the thick of it now, this is what I am here for and that will probably involve a big workload," he says.
"It is unfortunate for the others [Robinson, Ali Williams and Jack] but I have to make the most of my opportunities, I have to set the tone, while it gives all of us, me, Dolph [Greg Rawlinson] and Floss [Filipo] their chance.
"We are all playing for Tri-Nations and World Cup spots here.
"This year there has been the bonus that I have played a full season for the Blues at lock.
"I am probably moulding myself more towards someone who plays lock more than loose forward," says Flavell.
"Last year when I was here with the ABs in this environment, that message was put across to me then as well so it is something that I have focused my skill work towards."
Flavell's priorities are the setpiece duties in the scrums and lineouts, cleaning out breakdowns, hitting rucks while broken field running with the ball is an extra.
"Lineouts have changed a bit with all the different roles. You have got support crew around you with the lifters and you don't need to be six foot eight [over 2m] any more, you can get away with it.
"Like Reuben [Thorne] is shorter than me but he is very proven as a lock at Super 14 level and if you have a tall lifter rather than a short one it makes a difference too."
Tighthead prop John Afoa teamed up with Flavell as his lifter at the Blues and with the All Blacks he is working with Jerry Collins for the restarts and lifts against Canada.
The 30-year-old thinks his sharpness is returning after he felt a bit flat towards the end of his demanding first campaign as Blues captain. He liked the demands of leading that squad and, if asked, would do it again next season.
Flavell plays his 20th test tomorrow after returning from club rugby in Japan last year with a goal of making the All Black squad for the World Cup. He made the test squad last year before he had surgery on a torn chest muscle and missed the Tri-Nations and tour to Europe.
"This test gives us a chance to work our combinations, to put a mark down about our performance," Flavell says.
"It is strange. I don't really feel like I have played a test this season after 10 minutes against France in Auckland and even 50 minutes last week. I feel fresh, I needed time out to work on skills and speed.
"During the season you are just trying to survive from week to week and you don't get a chance to work on the skills."