KEY POINTS:
When the All Blacks last played at Carisbrook, Adam Thomson was with his student mates on the terraces cheering the men in black and draining a few beers.
Three years on, his mates will still be doing the same thing but Thomson will be wearing the black No 6 jersey tomorrow against the Springboks.
"I know what it feels like to be there for a test. It was the time of the new haka, I had a few beers on board of course, I loved it, it was a great occasion."
This will be extra good as well. First test on his home patch with his greatest supporter, his mother, Glenda, and other family in the crowd.
"The city is buzzing about it, their first test in three years, my family is coming down and we are playing the World Cup champions again. My mum supports me no matter what I do as a rugby player. She comes down to most of the Otago matches from near Ashburton."
Thomson's mother watches his club games, too, for University, although she missed his rare appearance a couple of weeks ago when the All Blacks had a break.
She also booked and paid for flights for Otago's matches in the NPC but, hoping her son would continue to be with the All Blacks during that competition, has been unable to get a refund on those plans.
Thomson's selection for the All Blacks has been a whirl for everyone in his family.
"Sometimes I pinch myself at night when I have been through a day of doing interviews, being at training or promotion and I can stop and say to myself that I am an All Black," he said.
"When you look around New Zealand and see the vast amount of talent that we have in all positions really, and just having the honour of being picked for the All Blacks and then starting for the last three tests with such a great bunch of guys, it is all a bit unreal."
A fortnight ago, Thomson played openside flanker for his club in a performance which impressed his coach and former Otago and Scotland midfielder John Leslie.
"He is a great team man, well-balanced and when he got his first All Black cap he made a real heartfelt speech to his family," he said. "He is the sort of selection which encourages every player in New Zealand. "He is tall, super quick with good skills and the good thing is it shows the selectors are not boxing people up in distinct parcels.
"The first time I ever ran into him, I had just come back from overseas and we played a game of touch and I gave him the outside and he went past me. He is super quick, tall and bigger than people think, very athletic and as tough as you need to be."
Thomson was uncertain whether he would get up for club rugby a fortnight ago but once he got his jersey on and warmed up he sailed into his work.
He was unsure, too, about what to expect last week against the Boks. "They were physical. They have great players and when you put them together in one side, guys like Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, it is a whole different world.
"It is a very potent loose forward trio, world class, so it was a great challenge but when you are a rugby player you want to go up against the best. They were very physical in contact, the tackle and off the ball as well, so you've got to watch yourself all the time.
"It was a big step up from Super 14, not only the physical side of it but the less time and space you got to do things.
"I don't think you should write off the All Black forward pack. We have some big physical guys in there and we relish the sort of challenge that South Africa brings and we are going out to take what they give and give just as much back, so it is always a great fight when we go up against these guys."
Thomson has a PE degree which took longer than expected because of rugby but "it is about the journey and we got there in the end", he laughed.
"Having this test in Dunedin is massive for the city. There is a lot of talk about Otago rugby, Highlanders rugby and the state of the sport in this part of the world.
"It is a struggle sometimes but to get an All Black test back here there is huge excitement again, the ground was sold out early, there is a real buzz for the region about this. People here realise they have to show support for this test and then to help out with a new stadium if games like this are to keep coming back to the area.
"Carisbrook is in good nick. I have not played there since Super 14 but it is a great stadium in which to play."
