All Blacks: Life-changing day for Mathewson

Alby Mathewson with teammate Corey Flynn after winning the Bledisloe Cup and Tri-Nations. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks debutant Alby Mathewson could recline with his newborn son today and reflect on 24 hours which will take some beating as the most momentous in his life.

Mathewson made it to Wellington for the evening birth of his first child, son Nixon, and the following night was in Christchurch for his test debut off the reserve bench in New Zealand's 20-10 defeat of Australia. It added to a bench appearance against Munster in 2008.

The lively Wellington halfback did well to contain his emotions after a four-minute cameo, particularly when asked what meant most.

"Being a dad obviously but the test is huge as well," he said.

"I've been wanting to get back in the team since my taste against Munster. I'm a real All Black now, not just a one-game All Black."

Mathewson admitted he had been reluctant over the past week to inform team management that the baby was due on the same day as the test.

"I probably kept it a little bit too quiet. I assumed he was going to be late because everyone said the first one is usually late."

News that partner Cara was showing signs of going into labour arrived on Thursday night but Mathewson couldn't get through by phone to manager Darren Shand to request a flight to the capital.

Shand replied the following morning and Mathewson promptly caught the next plane north.

"They said you have to do what you have to do."

Mathewson said if the baby had arrived last night, he would have missed the birth to play the test. Cara had given him clearance to do so.

"Obviously it's my first one but it (the test) is quite an opportunity which I didn't want to give anyone else a go at," he said.

"But once I was there, she was pleased I was actually there."

Mathewson joins fellow-halfback Piri Weepu as a new dad, with Weepu having only spent a couple of days with his new daughter since she was born nearly two weeks ago.

It was not just Weepu giving some early fatherhood advice

"I've had tips from everyone. Everyone's chucking their two cents in," he said.

"(All Blacks winger) Cory Jane's been telling everyone I actually called (the baby) Cory and some people actually believe it. He's an idiot."

Mathewson, who has less than 50 minutes of rugby under his belt since the Super 14, hoped to be in the All Blacks squad for their next Tri-Nations test against South Africa in Johannesburg on August 21 but that will depend on the fitness of injured No 9 Jimmy Cowan.

- NZPA