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New All Black Mike Delany - Source: Photosport -
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The nerves have kicked in for Mike Delany as the All Blacks rugby coaches say to he and the other second-stringers: 'show us you're a test player'.
The Bay of Plenty pivot shoved ahead of Stephen Donald into the coveted No 10 jersey and will guide the All Blacks around the cavernous San Siro before 80,000-plus Italian fans on Sunday (NZT).
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but more excited than anything at the moment. I just want to get out there and do the job and have that cap behind me," Delany told a gaggle of New Zealand and Italian reporters after coach Graham Henry confirmed 12 changes to his starting lineup to face Italy.
Other test debutants are centre Tamati Ellison and winger Ben Smith, with Rodney So'oialo to captain the All Blacks for the fifth time as they try to make amends for a scratchy 27-6 win over Italy in Christchurch in June.
Delany, 27, quipped he'd booked a holiday on the Gold Coast to unwind from a stellar season with Bay of Plenty in the Air NZ Cup, the very competition which launched him into the tour squad and forced a change of travel plans.
Having been the second-string pivot to Donald for the Chiefs in Super 14, the laidback Mt Maunganui native thought he'd just have a crack and see what happened.
"I didn't really think it (All Blacks) was a reality. I didn't expect to make the side, I just thought I'd plug away week in, week out, and my form was good so I'm glad they chose the side on form."
Highly rated Delany
Henry rated Delany as one of the Air NZ Cup's form players, and cited former All Blacks Frank Bunce and Joe Stanley who made their test debuts in their late-20s and went on to become regular fixtures in the test side.
"Probably opportunity and maturity, some guys develop later. Probably a bit of confidence, he's running the ship in the BOP and he moved to Waikato because he couldn't break in when he was younger," Henry said.
All this may seem hard luck for Donald, the 17-test All Black who waited patiently on the bench behind the now-suspended Dan Carter in Tokyo and Cardiff, and now finds himself in the reserves again.
The rationale was simple, and applied to several other newcomers, Henry said.
"We know what Steve can do, he's played close to 20 tests and we've seen him in big test matches; we don't know what Mike can do at this level. "
Tipped off
Delany was tipped off about his debut early in the week and began some serious study on his opposite number Craig Gower and some potential weaknesses in an Italian side who will present a hefty challenge up front.
He just hoped to continue his form in blue and yellow.
"That's one thing I make sure of, play my natural game and not get too caught up in the occasion. I've got great outsides too."
Debutants aside, Sunday's test is huge for the likes of loose forwards Liam Messam and Tanerau Latimer, Ellis, Corey Flynn and Anthony Boric to prove their worth after periods away through either form or injury.
With the World Cup looming in less than two years, the selectors maintained they'd soon start putting ticks and crosses beside names and these are the last of the 33-man squad to get their chances.
Said assistant coach Wayne Smith: "That defines your character, can you stand up and perform under those pressures? That's what makes an All Black, and we'll find out about some young men on Saturday."
