By Chris Forster
Lima Sopoaga is celebrating the best possible reason to miss a return to the treasured number ten jersey for the All Blacks.
The Highlanders first-five and his partner have welcomed their first child Milla to the world.
Sopoaga was a late withdrawal from the All Blacks squad which flew out of Auckland yesterday, on their way to Buenos Aires for the Rugby Championship Test against Argentina.
He posted a picture of his newborn on social media then tweeted his followers with the comment, "If I have to wait another 799 days to start a test match. I tell you what, the gift I was blessed with today is well worth it".
Beauden Barrett's holiday was cut short and he got the call-up as a late replacement for the Test in Argentina.
Coach Steve Hansen has already indicated Sopoaga will be back in contention for the second part of their global road trip, when they travel to South Africa.
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