Lima Sopoaga during a New Zealand All Blacks training session on July 15, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Lima Sopoaga during a New Zealand All Blacks training session on July 15, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Lima Sopoaga will make his test debut against the Springboks at Ellis Park, one of the most intimidating arenas in world rugby, and the new All Blacks No10 admits he's already nervous.
"It doesn't get much bigger, does it? [I played in] the Super Rugby final two weeksago in front of my family and friends, but to be able to carry out your dream at a park that holds so much history - for the All Blacks against South Africa - it couldn't be a better script.
Asked about his feelings, he said: "I've never been in the cauldron of test match footy so I'll find out all about it on Saturday.
"I roomed with Dan Carter last week and even he said he was nervous going into the Argentina game. He said 'if you're nervous you're alive and it means you really want it'.
I'd be lying if I stood here and said I wasn't nervous. I definitely am but I think it's a good thing."
The selection of 24-year-old Sopoaga following his standout season with the Highlanders must be considered one of Steve Hansen's boldest decisions in his four years as All Blacks head coach.
Hurricanes lock James Broadhurst will also make his test debut when he partners Brodie Retallick in the second row, but it is Sopoaga's selection ahead of Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade which will grab the most attention with only two tests against Australia remaining until the start of the World Cup.
Lima Sopoaga during a New Zealand All Blacks training session on July 15, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.
Hansen, who left Dan Carter in New Zealand after his starts against Manu Samoa and Argentina, said he wanted to find out more about Broadhurst and Sopoaga and that the Boks' Johannesburg fortress was as good a place as any to do it.
"We've got to learn how they cope with pressure and you don't get too many occasions bigger than this one so we'll get some answers," he said.
Hansen said of Sopoaga: "He's impressed us how quick he's come in and picked things up. He's asked some good questions ... he only needs to be told something once and he picks it up.
"The group has come together really quickly since Samoa when we've had everyone available. There's a good culture within the group of helping one another - even the other five-eighths, Dan, who's not here, Beauden and Sladey - they're right there beside him the whole way and getting him up to speed."
Sopoaga, who directed the Highlanders to their maiden Super Rugby title this year, paid credit to coaches Jamie Joseph and Tony Brown for his quick elevation.
"They said they wanted the flash out and the consistency in," he said. "That was a big thing for me. I quite enjoy doing the fancy stuff but the fancy stuff won't get me to the next level. All year I just tried to the basics really really well and execute as best as I could."
Dane Coles will start at hooker in his first test of the year in place of Keven Mealamu, with blindside flanker Liam Messam replacing Jerome Kaino.
Backs Aaron Smith, Conrad Smith and Ben Smith are all included for the first time this year. Left wing Julian Savea, who suffered an asthma attack at training, has not been included.
Hansen paid credit to 27-year-old Broadhurst's development when he said: "He's a big lump of a guy - he's about 122kg but he's very athletic. He's got some good skillsets. The question mark around him when he was younger was 'is he physical enough?'. And in the last 12 to 18 months he's showed that he is. He's had a very big influence of the Hurricanes, especially this season."
# All Blacks team to play South Africa at Ellis Park on Sunday, kick-off 3.05am NZT, is: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Charles Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Brodie Retallick, James Broadhurst, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett and Malakai Fekitoa.
