New Zealand-born Shontayne Hape is relishing the opportunity to tackle the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday.
No divided loyalties for England's proud Kiwi
New Zealand-born Shontayne Hape is relishing the opportunity to tackle the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday.
Hape - who made 14 Test appearances for New Zealand's rugby league team - has been confirmed as England's starting inside centre for the showdown with New Zealand, after Martin Johnson made just one change from the side that beat Australia 21-20 in June.
Hape was born in Auckland of Maori descent but all that heritage will be forgotten on Saturday.
In 2007, Hape switched codes and signed for Bath. In 2009 he switched nationalities after qualifying for England on residency grounds and made his Test debut in England's drawn summer series with Australia.
"I am proud of where I come from but ultimately life leads everyone in different directions and now I am representing England," said Hape.
"I got the chance to pull on the jersey in the summer against Australia and now I have a chance to do it at home in front of a packed-out Twickenham.
"This is an opportunity I am relishing. To be give the opportunity to play against my country of birth, who are the number one team at the moment, there is no better challenge.
Stand tall
"The haka is something I have been thinking of. It is a tradition and the culture back home. I have done it before - but if I give any advice to my team-mates it will be to stand tall, stare them back in the eyes and let them know we will accept the challenge. When kick-off comes it will be game on."
Hape played rugby union at school but league for the Te Atatu Roosters, where his father coached, and it was the Kiwis rather than the All Blacks who he always dreamed of representing.
"I grew up playing rugby league in New Zealand and I wanted to play for the Kiwis. I realised my dream and three years ago I realised I wanted to give rugby a crack," he added.
"When I signed for Bath it was obviously a goal of mine to play at the highest level I possibly could.
"I have got all my jerseys - my first Kiwi Test jersey and my first England jersey. I will be keeping this jersey from Saturday too.
"They are all very special and proud moments in my life. They will be framed and on the wall."
