Marshall shooting straight from hip

On or off the field, the All Blacks' scrumhalf for the first Test is feisty, charismatic and impossible to ignore. Gerry Thornley is won over.

He's a deeply impressive individual, is Justin Marshall, probably the most impressive in either of the 22-man squads. He speaks candidly, controversially and articulately. You come away from feeding at the trough with your recorder thinking this guy could be a movie star.

He'll turn 32 in August. He made his debut in a 37-12 win over France in Paris almost a decade ago. He has 78 caps. He's bound for Leeds and the filthy lucre of the Premiership, but, no matter the cost, you sense Leeds have got themselves a bargain.

Such is his wont, he's criticised the Graham Henry think tank for not bringing him on the All Blacks' European autumnal tour. Then he voiced concerns over their lack of communication with him toward the end of the Super 12, wondering aloud whether he'd be up for it before daringly stating he was ready and able. It was quite a soap opera.

Hence, there would be a compelling argument, as expressed by Warren Gatland in these pages, for not using him in this Test series. Yet you'd venture that would be a mistake.

He's in the form of his life, and primed for this series to such an extent he might be the dominant individual. And anybody who stands up to authority so forcefully and eloquently must be made of the right stuff.

And he wants this bad.

"I remember the first time my name was read out, it was pretty unexpected, and it was a bit of 'is that my name you read out?' If I was to be honest, there's been times when I knew that my name was going to be read out. But that certainly wasn't the case when the team was read out the other day. It wasn't a great feeling of relief for me, it was a huge boost and excitement. I had goosebumps. It gave me a shiver down the spine. To be honest, it felt just like the first one."

You tend to forget that for all the achievements he and others of his All Black generation have had, he's never played the Lions.

"This game means a lot. I was really thrilled to be in the squad initially but to run out and contribute straight away is a great thrill . . . I can't wait to get started."

Some of the rationale for Henry's choice of Marshall, and that of five of his Crusaders team-mates, is that they are playing in their home town.

"It doesn't make a difference for me. I would say wherever the game was being played all of my Canterbury team-mates would be just as determined as we are playing here at home. It does help that we are in comfortable surroundings.

"Whatever the weather turns out to be like we do know how to play in those conditions and it's a stadium we are used to. I know where to sit in the changing room, so that is not an issue and it means I don't have any of those peripheral things to worry about - it's just a matter of getting prepared to play the Lions."

The biggest factor in Marshall's selection is probably that he provides a greater physicality around the fringes than the zippier Byron Kelleher. It's a smart pick. And he clearly isn't lacking for motivation.

"I'd like to leave the All Black jersey as I stepped into it and that was with a fantastic game against France in 1995 thanks to my team-mates. I want to go out on a good note, but I can't predict the future."

He's caught the bug like everyone else in Christchurch.

"In the time I have been an All Black I've never seen this type of hype or this amount of excitement in the public over a tour. I've never seen this sort of energy around the country . . . they've really warmed to this series and for me it is really special. A lot of great All Blacks, like your Taine Randells, never had the chance to play the Lions, so it means so much to me."

All his reported soundings suggested he was concerned over whether he'd be picked or not, yet when I asked him this, his response was of a mature player enjoying the golden years without pressure.

"Not really. The thing I wanted to do was to go out and enjoy my rugby in the Super 12 and play well. I knew if I played well then there was no pressure on me and if I was doing that then the opportunity to play in the All Blacks would be there.

"I think more than anything, because I wasn't worried about it, it made me play better. No expectations and no weight on my shoulders meant I was relaxed and I enjoyed myself. I think my rugby showed that, so I wasn't hanging my head on being selected and that made be a better player in the Super 12."

Ah, but can he take that relaxed attitude into this arena?

"For me I just want to perform for the team. If I put that pressure on myself I won't be myself. I just want to go out and not worry about things.

"I'll try to make things happen. Let them happen, trust my instincts and just go out there and know that I can do what I do well. I just want to be myself."

There's been no more outspoken player in New Zealand about the ills of professionalism from a player's perspective. But, he explains, he wasn't doing it for himself.

"People think 'what's Marshall moaning about now?' I've nothing to moan about, 'cos I've never had anything taken off me. I've got so much out of the game in New Zealand. I couldn't ask for any more than what I've got.

"The thing that a lot of people out there don't recognise is . . . the comments I'm making are for the younger players coming through. They need to have that security, they need to know they've got some car security, some job security, that if they're not an All Black they're still going to get a decent retainer to stay and play rugby in New Zealand."

"Some of the things I'm saying are not for me, they're for younger players and (to) make us as a country and them as players get to the levels that we want to make us win World Cups instead of coming second."

Such an attitude requires a special kind of pluck and audacity. The kind the All Blacks will need in this series.