KEY POINTS:
Test selection against Scotland will bring up 50 tests for All Black hooker Keven Mealamu and his first against the Scots.
Mealamu has been one of the great success stories for the All Blacks since his sudden promotion on the tour of Europe in 2002. He was always
considered a shade small as a hooker but his speed, strength and skill has transformed that thinking.
He did take a step back in time, however, against Portugal when he came off the bench for a late stint as loose forward when the All Blacks rotated their squad for extra matchplay.
"It was good fun actually. I think we had two set pieces, one scrum and one lineout and so it was pretty much like playing hooker to be honest," Mealamu said of his cameo in Lyon.
A decade ago Mealamu played flanker for the New Zealand secondary schools before changing position and starting his long haul to international success.
"Before playing hooker that was my position, played openside and No 8 when I was at school, so it was still familiar but it has been a long time.
"When I go back to the [Otahuhu] club sometimes it is hard to slot in so it is usually easier just packing down on the side of the scrum."
One regret Mealamu has is that his loose forward brother Luke did not make the Samoa side for the World Cup.
"I think he must have been close, he is definitely a good player and stuff but it was a bit unfortunate.
"The last time we played together over here was in 2000 when he was playing for Samoa and I was playing for the NZ As, so it has been a while but he would have done well over here."
Mealamu said it would have been nice to have had some family at the World Cup as one of the tough parts was being away from home for so long.
"I am definitely not lonely because the guys keep your spirits up and stuff but I really miss my wife and kids as well."
When Mealamu made the Grand Slam tour in 2005 with the All Blacks he missed the final test against Scotland so selection in the squad for Monday at Murrayfield would be his first international against that team.
This year has been different for Mealamu who had been the premier hooker for coach Graham Henry through most of his tenure.
Mealamu started only one of the Tri-Nations tests as Anton Oliver was preferred for his bulk and deemed not as effective as Mealamu from the bench.
But in the heat and on the hard grounds of France, Mealamu seems to have nudged ahead once more. Whether that pattern continues in Edinburgh will be revealed tomorrow.
