KEY POINTS:
The American tourist was in awe, watching a replay of the All Blacks' crushing power in Lyon.
"Advise me," he said, "these guys must wear some sorta padding to do that all game."
Told they might have, at most, a lined vest under their black jerseys, the American shook his head.
"I watch a lot of NFL and your guys would not look outta place there. They are amazing hitters," he said as another Rodney So'oialo tackle flattened a French attack.
So'oialo and Jerry Collins were the lead hitmen in the offensive tackle count which denied the French any tries and ground their spirit into the Stade de Gerland turf.
It was compelling in its relentless determination, a display which coach Graham Henry described as the best his side had produced for some time.
No 8 So'oialo agreed it was difficult to duplicate that effort every week but it was necessary if the All Blacks were to stay top of the world rankings.
"I have always been a believer that the mind is the strongest part of the human body and that is what separates us from everyone else. We have to keep the mind strong and churn out the performances," he said.
Three main motives drive So'oialo in his pursuit of excellence now that he seems to have convinced the selectors he should be the regular starter in the boot of the All Black scrum.
"The reasons I play the game the way I do are always the same," he said. "Firstly, I enjoy rugby - I always have. Then there is my family who are a big part of my life and push me to be as good as I can and, of course, there is the silver fern."
In an All Black side which has reached new heights of fitness, So'oialo stands out. His energy levels are huge, his stamina inspiring, his fitness regimes built on ideas like running home after he has finished a practice session with Wellington.
"When I left school, I realised I had some talent and wanted to make the most of that. It has been a lot of work and hard work pays off. If you ask anyone in the team, they do not just do the minimum, they work hard on all the other details. It wasn't until I had a family of my own that I started tweaking areas of my game and enhanced what natural skills I had."
So'oialo's parents, wife Marilyn and four-year-old daughter Tiana-Mya are in London, catching up with relatives and waiting to meet the No 8 when the All Blacks move to Cardiff.
"They are big supporters, although only my parents will go to watch the test in Cardiff. My wife supports me but I don't think she likes rugby that much - which balances my life out nicely. She does go to games in Wellington and they check me out on TV."
While some players have messages taped to their gear bags or etched into their wristbands, So'oialo has some more permanent inspiration tattooed on his body.
When he needs to dig deep, So'oialo can gaze on his daughter's name and design which covers most of his left forearm. On that same arm, there is a new inscription dedicated to a cousin who died in July after a long battle with a heart condition.
"He was 26, same age as me and died in the week of our test against the Springboks in Wellington. That was tough but the coaches were very sympathetic. All the tattoos carry a lot of meaning about what I am and what I want to be."
So'oialo was playing his 30th test today in Paris after his debut against Wales in Cardiff in 2002. He was an athlete then but was a little impetuous. His game is much more rounded now. He does not get as isolated and has formed a venomous combination with Collins and Richie McCaw.
"It is all about experience, isn't it? I know I have a lot more to improve. I want to reach the main goal - which is to be the best I can be. There is a character in this All Black team which says everything about how I want to play, with passion and pride in the black jersey."
