James Lowe admits he wasn't good enough to be an All Black during his five years playing Super Rugby, but is savouring his coming of age as an international winger.
The former Māori All Black has played a starring role for Ireland in their thrilling 29-20 win over New Zealand at Dublin, scoring a first-half try, making several telling runs and a 72nd-minute, penalty-earning tackle on Rieko Ioane, that turned the momentum back to the home side.
The 29-year-old made his test debut for his adopted country in 2020, after serving the mandatory three-year qualification period playing for Leinster in the Pro 14.
His test rugby career has been stop-start, with even his own coach questioning his defensive nouse, but Lowe earned his way back into the team for the end-of-year internationals and his showing against the All Blacks was career-defining.
The former Nelson College pupil says the entire matchday experience was a dream come true.
"Never in a million years could I have thought this day would come," Lowe says.
"Since I was a kid, I dreamt of being an All Black, man. That's just a very Kiwi thing to do, but I gave up that dream.
"I wasn't quite good enough when I was at my best, but to be able to come over here and put in a performance against the best team in the world... they're the standardbearers, and words can't describe what it was like to hear my country's national anthem and to stand in front of the haka.
"It's a childhood dream."
After stifling the attacking play of x-factor All Black Sevu Reece and completing 100 percent of his tackle attempts, the former Chiefs flyer hopes he's silenced the doubters.
"You bollocks [media] always talk about my [defence], and I got up and whacked Rieko, and we got the turnover.
"I don't care about that first try. It was the moment in what, like the 70th minute, to be able to read [the play] and do everything I've been doing for the past 6-7 months and produce it against the best team in the world... that's what I'm happy about."
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