Out of nowhere, a few went somewhere

Shannon Frizell has come from seemingly nowhere to start for the All Blacks. But he is not the first player to be plucked out of obscurity to play for the national side. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at some other All Black bolters. 

George Nepia

Picked for the All Blacks at age 19, Nepia had played a handful of games for Hawke's Bay. Went on to play every game of the Invincibles tour.

Success: off the charts, although did not wear the black jersey a lot after the Invincibles tour due to injuries, league defection and financial issues.

Ron Hemi

Played just three full first-class games before being picked for All Blacks for a tour in the 1950s. Was a quick, mobile hooker who played more games for the All Blacks than his province.

Success: Went on to have a lengthy All Black career.

Grahame Thorne

Was a very promising player at school but then went away to play cricket for two years. Was plucked out of the cricket field to tour the northern hemisphere in 1967.

Success: For all his profile and hair changes, Thorne actually only played 10 tests. Went on to do many different things.

Kent Lambert

Lambert has the unique achievement of representing five national teams within a year. He played for NZ Colts, Juniors, Universities, Maoris and All Blacks.

The freezing worker had immense strength and was picked in a period where the depth at prop was not great in NZ rugby.

Success: When injury-free was a first-choice but, struggling for money, he signed for league, where he made little impact.

Mike Burgoyne

The Northland flanker never played rugby for four years and then, at the age of 30, after an impressive season for Northland, was picked to tour the United Kingdom in 1979.

Success: That tour was his lot. Was injured and never seen again.

Saimone Taumoepeau

The big prop came out of nowhere to make the end-of-year tour in 2004. Could not even make the South Canterbury team earlier in his career. But seven first-class games for Auckland was enough to convince those in charge to pick Taumoepeau.

Success: Played another couple of years but faded away. Went overseas.

Isaia Toeava

The project had played a handful of first-class games for Auckland before being picked for the All Blacks in 2005. Said to be one of the most athletic players in the game.

Success: Had some talent but so did others around him. Still playing somewhere in France.