All Blacks: 'Flash' plans for biggest dance

Lelia Masaga trains ahead of the match against the Italians. Photo / Getty Images

He picked up the nickname Flash from the comic book hero. His extreme pace has embellished the sobriquet while his repartee is right up there in speed too.

It is hard to stop Lelia Masaga as he pours out answers about his limited but exciting rugby life which will go up another notch tomorrow when he makes his All Black debut at Christchurch.

Even customs at Auckland Airport had a hard time stopping Masaga when he had to be diverted from the Junior All Blacks programme a few weeks ago to replace Rudi Wulf, who injured himself on the eve of the opening test against France.

That night Masaga did not get off the bench but he will wear the No 14 jersey tomorrow in his debut against Italy. "First of all I want to score a try," Masaga said when asked about his goals for this test. "That's what wingers are paid to do."

His wish was not said with any arrogance or an over-inflated opinion of his ability, but more the excited reaction of someone who could not wait to be part of the action.

Masaga's enthusiasm is infectious. His Chiefs teammates say he is always excitable, always optimistic. He reckons he knows when to tone down the volume a little, he does not want to get offside with any of the older team management. He says he picks his time to do the all-hugging and all-dancing routine.

If he scores a try, Masaga says the celebration will be something other than the trademark shuffle, though he joked that he wanted to run the idea past Henry first. "I don't want to do something and then see him touch the ear piece and "get him off, get him off".

Masaga said expression was a large part of his life and he wanted to send children a strong message about fun and enjoyment in his sport.

"There are times when you have got to switch on, switch off but when you score a great try then you have to celebrate somehow but always acknowledge your teammates," he said.

For a little while after he was called into the squad in Dunedin, Masaga toned down the antics as he became familiar with the pulse and atmosphere around the All Blacks squad. But the lull is over; Flash is back. He feels part of the group now, he is not overwhelmed by his promotion, he is ready to play.

Masaga's career started in Porirua but he switched his base to Manurewa and his provincial allegiance to Counties soon after his father died 12 years ago. He blossomed with the Chiefs

"I was told I needed to be a strong player; be consistent in every game," he said. "Catching balls on defence was one thing for me."

The improvements have been noted, fortune has swung his way, so now we will see how Flash the man really is.