Ngani Laumape stunned by All Blacks call
Thursday 8 June 2017 13:58, UK
Ngani Laumape said making the All Blacks squad was so unexpected that he didn't even listen to the squad announcement.
The 24-year-old, a former rugby league player, has been superb for the Hurricanes after switching codes in 2016 which has seen him included in Steve Hansen's All Blacks squad ahead of the likes of Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala.
Despite his tremendous form, Laumape did not think he had done enough to make the squad and did not even watch the announcement.
Live British and Irish Lions Tour
Laumape was sitting quietly in the Hurricanes' changing room getting ready for training when team-mate Dane Coles broke the news.
"He was like 'shot Ngani, you've made it' and I was like 'nah, he's lying' and I just carried on stretching," Laumape told TVNZ.
"But then he told me he was telling the truth and I just had a moment to myself and I'm just happy for my parents and my brothers and sister and definitely my partner as well. I just thought of them."
"I thought someone was going to slap me to wake up or something," he added. "When I was playing for the Warriors, I always wanted to be an All Black and to play for the Hurricanes."
Laumape is a bruising ball carrier but has worked hard on the little touches that has really caught the attention of Hansen's and his coaching staff.
"He started last year and really was probably just a really solid ball carrier," assistant coach Ian Foster said.
"Now he's bringing a variation to his running lines, his support play is outstanding, and you can see his combination with Beaudy [Barrett] has enabled both to play really well.
"He's a little unique in comparison with our other midfielders."
