Toeava and Moa follow in Kirwan's footsteps at World Cup

Isaia Toeava's versatile talents have helped him gain All Black selection for his second World Cup tournament. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Starting lineup features two former students from JK's old college

What chance of history repeating tonight at Eden Park?

For those who recall events from 24 years ago there was a certain wing who ignited the match and the tournament with a long range try against Italy.

The man? John Kirwan, All Black wing and back home for this seventh global tournament as coach of Japan.

Kirwan gathered a pass from Grant Fox inside his own 22 and wove a path of evasive power to beat a clutch of defenders in a staggering run. It was the beginning of a series of significant tournament statements from the former de la Salle College student.

Tonight two students from the same secondary school will be part of tonight's World Cup start between the All Blacks and Tonga. All Black left wing Isaia Toeava and Tongan halfback Taniela Moa were de la Salle contemporaries, Auckland teammates and rivals tonight for the start of the seventh global event.

Moa was on the edge of being called into the All Blacks in 2008 when injuries bit into their squad during the Tri-Nations series. The official selection never came and he dropped off the test radar until he shifted his talents to Bay of Plenty and made his test debut for Tonga this season.

He is back in familiar Eden Park territory tonight where he played a great deal of rugby for Auckland and the Blues with his rambling runs and bullet passes a feature of his enterprise.

Toeava first flitted across the selectors' consciousness as a teenager for Auckland after he had starred for national secondary school sides, under-age and sevens teams.

He has now played all across the All Black backline. He was nabbed as a fledgling outside back and special project by the All Black panel in 2005 and made his debut later that year against Scotland at fullback.

Now he has played 32 tests with starts at fullback, right wing, centre and second five eighths. He came on at Brisbane a fortnight ago as a sub for Zac Guildford on the left wing but tonight's World Cup is his first start on that flank.

"I am pretty excited to get the first opportunity, to pull on the black jersey and play in a World Cup especially with all my friends and family here," he said.

That prospect was looking shaky earlier this season when Toeava withdrew from the Super 15 series after 10 rounds. He had been in stunning form at fullback until a hip injury took him out of action.

But a decent rest allowed him to step out for the All Blacks against the Springboks in the same comeback match as Israel Dagg. Both prospered and confirmed their World Cup places.

Toeava is only 25 but into his second tournament and given wing duties tonight in a role the panel feel best suits his versatile talents.

He has been feeling the country's energy in the buildup to this tournament.

"We are back home and we were very excited to get out to all the New Zealand people. We went out to different towns to see people who do not get to see us much. It was pretty buzzy for those people," he said.

Come test time tonight emotions will be equally sizzling for Toeava.