Player Diary - Isaac Ross (10-June-09)

Dear Diary,

I first found out I was going to be an All Black on the radio at two o'clock on Sunday. I was waiting for the list to be read out with my partner and my son. It was a pretty nerve wracking time because it was in alphabetical order and of course I'm R, so it's a wee way down the list. It was like a game of name elimination running through my head, going through the names of other contenders and before I knew it my name was called out.

Just before the naming, out of the blue, One News rang me asking if they could send a camera round. All I could think of was, “What if I don’t make it, man it’s going to be awkward if I don’t make it.” But I made it and I was pretty ecstatic.

My first text came from my brother, he was sitting by the radio and as soon as he heard my name, he must have pre written it and then pressed send straight away. The texts didn’t stop coming from then on. I was trying to reply to everyone and ran out of money and had to top up. You don’t realise how many people have got their eye on you, wishing you well for the future. It’s quite flattering really and I really appreciate it. It’s great.

I’ve been floating on air since I heard the news. We didn’t have to go into camp until Tuesday so I snuck down to my parent’s house on Monday. They were super stoked for me. Even though they kept it low key and mellow, they were dancing hard out on the inside. I was chatting with Mum and she said, “Do you realise you’re the first real baby black?” Obviously there have been 17 father and son combinations in the All Blacks, but only one father, mother (my Mum was a Black Fern), son combo. That’s pretty cool.

I woke up in camp on Wednesday and it was full on from there. We get a lot of adidas gear, which is pretty cool and a supply of shoes and boots. I had to try on the All Blacks jersey to give Pos the gear man my size and obviously it was the first time I’ve put it on. I was trying to be really chilled but I didn’t want to take it off, it was just awesome.

Once we cracked into training, it all started to sink in a bit more. The first thing we got to do was the yo yo test. It’s a fitness test where you have to run back and forth over a short distance. It’s one of those things where you want to go as hard out as you can but you don’t want to drop out first. You don’t want to be that guy. I was reasonably pleased with what I posted though.

Friday was supposed to be a lighter day and I thought, “Sweet, got the hard physical stuff out of the way. We’ve just got to run through the lineout calls and some scrum work. ” Little did I know Shag (Assistant Coach Steve Hansen) had a surprise for us new boys. We were called over and I realised there was a coach and two trainers waiting for us, it was like heading into the gates of hell. They put us through the ringer with the whole squad watching. When we were flying back home later Jimmy said, “What did you fellas do wrong?” So I said, “Just initiations bro. Just initiations. A welcome to the team. It was good.” So I was a bit surprised when he said, “I’ve never had any of that!”

They’ve been running me in the starting team, so I had quiet hopes and crossed fingers that I would get this as my test debut. The idea of playing for the All Blacks has always been at the back of the head. You know it’s there, but you think it’s out of reach.

I’ve got a bit of history down here in Dunedin having played for the Highlanders last year before going back to the Crusaders. So it’ll be a great crowd down here. They’ll have to rug up though because it’s pretty fresh. I think I’ll have to take a leaf out of Ali’s book and get the thermals on. I’m glad he wore them first though because I don’t want to be the first soft lock running out in his thermals.

You have to get your head round all the calls and stuff, especially being in the line out. There’s been heaps to learn, but it’s an exciting challenge. I can’t wait to get out there and put it all into play. But I know you’ve got to do your homework first. It’s better to ask the questions on the training paddock and put it right here rather than in front of 30,000 people on Saturday.

Anyway I can’t wait for that first kick off, to walk from the haka to that first kick off, to the opening of the battle.

Cheers,
Isaac

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