On the opening day of the Rugby World Cup, Fiji play the hosts under the floodlights of Twickenham, England. The Pacific Islander's are the eternal underdogs, with their lack of numbers, structure and resources as a nation hindering their raw ability on the rugby pitch.
One thing they have in their favour is their global location to attract once aspiring All Black's to join the ranks of the Flying Fijians through family heritage.
World rugby in the professional era has pricked its ears up in awareness that New Zealand has undoubtedly the most talented and naturally gifted pool of rugby union players on the planet. Every young lad wants to be an All Black and every young girl wants to marry an All Black. That's motivation in itself.
Realistically, very few make the step up to All Black level and the ones that just miss out still have the qualities to walk in to most international rugby teams in the world.
So here is my list of New Zealander's who have been selected by other nations, either on heritage or residency rules, to represent a different country at The World Cup.
Michael Leitch - Japan
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| Michael Leitch battling hard through contact |
Born in New Zealand to Fijian parents, Michael Leitch moved to Japan as a 15 year old. He has represented Japan at age grade level all the way up to the full team, making his debut at the age of 20.
Leitch is a physically dominating, mobile player who is a ferocious ball carrying number 8 or flanker. His work at the breakdown and off-loading ability out of contact are particularly impressive, earning himself very high praise at the last world cup and being regarded as one of the best performing forwards from that tournament in 2011.
In the 2012/13 season, he broke his arm and upon recovering from this on his first game back breaking his leg. However, it looks like he has put his injuries behind him with a string of excellent performances for The Waikato Chiefs in New Zealand.
Expect to see Leitch as a talisman for a much improved Japan and potentially seeing an upset or two along the way.
John Hardie -Scotland
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| John Hardie tackling hard against Italy on his second appearance for Scotland |
After a very strong 2014-15 season with the Highlanders, winning the Super Rugby Championship, Hardie was regarded as one of the most physical and defensively strong players in New Zealand. He led in tackle completion, runs made and pilfers from the loose forward position.
Many an eyebrow was raised on the other side of the world in Scotland when he was announced to have made the cut for the Scotland world cup squad. Players like; Johnny Beattie, Rob Harley, Blair Cowan (a fellow Kiwi) and John Barclay were excluded. However, New Zealander Vern Cotter knows the players at his disposal and that Hardie is currently better than the unfortunate home-grown players left out.
John Hardie has risked it all by leaving his Highlanders contract in New Zealand (he's currently an unattached player) to play for Scotland and live out a dream by playing in a world cup.
Tim Nanai-Williams - Samoa
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| Tim Nanai-Williams tries to escape and offload against the Ba Ba's for Somoa |
Having recently signed a lucrative deal for the Ricoh Black Rams in Japan, Nanai Williams had spent his whole rugby life playing in New Zealand. The brother of monstrous Ulster number 8 Nick Williams and cousin to All Black Sonny Bill Williams, top level ruby is in his genetic makeup.
A loophole in the IRB Sevens eligibility meant Nanai Williams could switch to represent Samoa even after playing for the New Zealand sevens at international level. Which meant theoretically he could play for the XV's of Manu Samoa.
The ex-Waikato Chiefs winger/full back is small in stature but possesses the ability to side step his way out of a phone box. With the explosive acceleration and attacking skill-set to match, one-on-one line breaks and offloads out the back can be expected from this pocket dynamo.
Jared Payne - Ireland
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| Jared Payne trying to escape the presence of England's George Ford for Ireland in the Six Nations |
New Zealand U21 representative left Auckland for Ulster in 2011 and hasn't looked back. Qualifying for Ireland on residency rules after playing for three years for Ulster.
Comfortable at fullback or centre, Payne's versatility and running lines are what convinced Joe Schmidt to give him a call up. Helped by the eventual retirement of Brian O'Criscoll, the centre position looked fairly light for Ireland. So the emergence and consistency of Payne was a key factor in the nationality switch and a piece of the jigsaw seems to have been filled.
There is no doubting Jared Payne's all round solid game, however for him to be fully accepted as an Irish fans favourite a good world cup would definitely help his cause.
Telusa Veainu - Tonga
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| Tonga's Telusa Veainu looking for support after making a break |
An age grade prodigious talent, Veainu scored a hat-trick in the final of the U20 World Cup in Argentina in 2010 for New Zealand. Big things were expected of him in the coming years, however he has never really hit the ground running at the step up to senior level.
Deciding to represent Tonga in 2015 through his parents, has been a fruitful and beneficial experience for everyone involved. Veainu playing outstandingly well for Tonga at The Pacific Nations Cup scoring 2 tries and running riot from open play.
There is no doubting his finishing and running rugby skills are amongst the best at this years world cup. So, this could be the moment for him to make that step up to top level rugby in front of a global audience.
Samuela Vunisa - Italy
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| Samuela Vunisa being held in a double tackle against South Africa for Italy |
Growing up, there was no question that Samuela Vunisa ever dreamed about playing for the Azzurri. Born in Fiji and growing up in New Zealand his sights were set on becoming a first class rugby player for his homeland or the adopted one.
In 2011 Vunisa was loaned to Calvisano, Italy from Taranaki, New Zealand and after negotiations between clubs his contract was released he and signed permanently. His two year stint at Calvisano and then Zebre qualified him for representing Italy at international level, resulting in his career going from strength to strength. Hence why Saracens have snapped him up this season for 2015 .
Vunisa's versatility at 6,7 and 8 are huge bonuses for Italy, combined with a sturdy 19st, 6ft3 ball carrying frame, can only strengthen Italy's world class back-row.
As an attitude and way of life, two million blokes live in New Zealand with aspirations, or once aspirations to play for the All Blacks. Some are lucky enough to become very good professional rugby players, but very few manage to pull on the distinguishable black jersey.
All is not lost for the holy grail of playing international rugby. The Pacific islands and northern hemisphere countries are searching for exceptional talent to strengthen their cause.
There is life after The All Blacks after all.
