That was the spark that gave Cruden the dream to become an All Black.
"The old man woke me up to watch the game on television from South Africa," Cruden said. "He always gave me a cup of Milo."
Cruden (23) became infatuated by the battle between the two top rugby countries in the test arena.
"It was an inspiration. I wanted to be part of that," he said.
Cruden regards the Springboks as the toughest opponents for the All Blacks and is looking forward to his first test against them.
"I'm pretty excited about it," Cruden said. "They are worthy opponents."
Before Cruden runs on to Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight, his mind will flick back to his childhood memories of the games he watched on television.
"The All Blacks v the Springboks is the first rugby memory I had as a youngster when I got up in the early hours of the morning to watch the games," Cruden said.
"I am looking forward to my first start against the Springboks in Dunedin."
It will be Cruden's third game under the roof in Dunedin. He played for Manawatu in the ITM Cup last year and in a Super 15 game there for the Chiefs.
"It's the first All Blacks test at the stadium and the boys in the squad are excited about that," Cruden said.
"It's different in the stadium.You know you are going to get dry conditions. We look forward to that.
"We know we will get dry ball and be able to express ourselves as individuals and collectively as a team."
Cruden will be the goal-kicker tonight and he will not want to have the same jinx that English great Jonny Wilkinson experienced at the World Cup.
"I don't think about that," Cruden said. "I had a few kicks in the stadium earlier in the week.
"It's a matter of making sure you respect every kick and go through your normal routine.
It's important to strike the ball with the same rhythm you use anywhere else and hopefully it stays straight and goes over the posts."
It will be the sixth start for the All Black first five tonight, in his 14th test. He made his debut against Ireland in New Plymouth two years ago.
It has been a successful 12 months for Cruden. He was a key member of the Manawatu team that reached the final of the championship section of the ITM Cup, and he was named the competition's player of the year.
He played three tests for the All Blacks at the World Cup and was a member of the Chiefs team that won the Super 15.
Aaron Cruden
The facts
Age: 23.
Position: First five-eighth.
Teams: Manawatu, Hurricanes, Chiefs, NZ Juniors (2009), All Blacks (2010-12, 13 tests).
Honours: ITM Cup player of the year (2011), World Cup gold medal (2011), IRB junior player of the year (2009).
