Wilson a latter-day Marco Polo

By WYNNE GRAY

BIARRITZ - Justin Wilson is another one who got away from the Wallabies.

Like his namesake and New Zealand A team-mate Justin Collins, Wilson emigrated from Australia with his family as a youngster and the pair's rugby talent now has both eligible to play international rugby for New Zealand only.

Born in Queanbeyan in the Australian Capital Territory, the area made famous in rugby by David Campese, utility back Wilson showed similar nimbleness to escape any Australian interest when he was picked as a a New Zealand sevens rep.

Selection as a replacement for the injured Daryl Lilley on the New Zealand A tour, a game against Wales A, then a start on the wing tomorrow at Bayonne against France A has reinforced his national aims.

Wilson's sporting journey is already like Marco Polo's, with the stamps in his passport to prove it.

Settling with his family in Rotorua, Wilson went to Western Heights High School with Caleb Ralph, where he played league and was good enough to make the Junior Kiwis.

After leaving school he travelled to Western Australia to play rugby for a couple of years, then back to New Zealand, where he played one game for the Bay of Plenty under-23 side and convinced provincial coach Gordon Tietjens he should be in the senior team.

Tietjens also put Wilson in the national sevens side and the 21-year-old was in this year's group who won the inaugural IRB sevens series.

He was part of the BoP squad who won the second-division title this season, but will play his rugby in Auckland next year.

"I have mixed feelings about leaving the Bay and will be watching closely to see whether they go up to the first divison," Wilson said.

"But I want to try to get a Super 12 contract and I also want to play in midfield."

Wilson feels his game is more suited to setting up others, while he also feels comfortable organising defences and meeting the midfield confrontations.

But he can play in most backline positions, and he came off the bench and on to the wing against Wales A last week where he scored a strong individual try.

A few weeks ago Wilson was celebrating after a regional sevens tournament in Mt Mauganui when his phone went. New Zealand A wanted him in Auckland the next day and to fly to Europe the day after.

"I hit the drinking on the head and went home, but I woke up in the morning wondering if it had been one of my mates pulling my leg," he recalled yesterday.

A confident young man, Wilson was also a little bemused yesterday to find he was getting a start against France A, probably beating other sevens' players such as Orene Ai'i and Rico Gear for the job on the wing.

But it is in midfield, eventually, where Wilson wants to make his rugby career.

So when Auckland coach Wayne Pivac came inquiring about a move and offering that sort of long-term target, Wilson agreed.

The first contact came before Wilson played for the Vikings side who beat Scotland in their tour opener in Whangarei.

The deal was done before this year's NPC started," he said.

"It was just something I wanted to do and now seemed a good time."

New Zealand A: Ben Blair, Mils Muliaina, Caleb Ralph, Scott McLeod, Justin Wilson, David Holwell, Jason Spice, Kelvin Middleton, Kupu Vanisi, Justin Collins, Dion Waller, Glenn Taylor (captain), Carl Hayman, Slade McFarland, Dave Hewett.

Reserves: Rico Gear, Orene Ai'I, Mark Robinson, Koula Tukino, Nick White, Keven Mealamu, Royce Willis.