Oliver's passion for the game rekindled

Anton Oliver. Herald file picture

All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver says he has several offers on the table to play rugby overseas, but wants a crack at Britain and Ireland's best -- at home, and away.

Oliver's career appeared to be on the scrap heap last year, with the Highlanders veteran expected to head overseas and release a tell-all book as a departing gift.

Both are on hold after he was recalled to the All Blacks for their European tour and made the most of that with a stunning performance in the 45-6 win against France in Paris last November.

The 29-year-old, who played the first of his 51 tests against Fiji in 1997, told a Wellington newspaper today the tour reawakened his passion for New Zealand rugby and fuelled his desire to play against the British and Irish Lions.

"I've got teams that are interested in me overseas, but the little sojourn to Europe last year, and now us winning games and me starting to play a bit better, it's awoken something inside me that had been dormant for some time.

"It's no secret I'm near the end, but I just don't know when that will be. I don't know what the selectors are thinking."

While the Lions are his immediate target, Oliver is also keen to make the grand slam tour in November.

"But if you don't play against the Lions you're not really going to make the end of year tour."

Oliver should have few qualms as he has carried his superb form from Paris into the Super 12.

"In the last game I was at my most energetic and doing things around the field that perhaps don't get picked up on TV but I know I'm helping out the team cause and doing my job."

That return to form has been mirrored by the Highlanders who have moved from the bottom of the table after the first round, to fourth as they head into tomorrow night's match against the third-placed Hurricanes.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has retained the same side that started against the Waratahs two weeks ago for tomorrow night's match, while Highlanders coach Greg Cooper has brought Danny Lee in at halfback for Jimmy Cowan.

Southland's Paul Miller will also start at No 8 after he was a late withdrawal ahead of the Brumbies game two weeks ago.

Oliver felt there were a lot of similarities between the two unfancied teams and agreed it was hard to pick a favourite.

"They're a bit like us. There are no expectations and no one really gives them a show (of winning the Super 12) either. It's quite a good position to be in really.

"I continually see a team like the Blues swamped by expectation. You never hear any of their players saying how good they're going to be and what they're going to do.

"But when you look through their team they've got some pretty good players and there is an expectation that they're going to perform week in and week out, and score mercurial tries left, right and centre.

"Teams like us don't really have that. It's quite good going underneath the radar. It's what we've done the last five weeks."

- NZPA