Rugby: Hape named to face ABs

Shontayne Hape is tackled during an England training session. Photo / Getty Images

As a professional footballer and accomplished DJ there is no doubt Shontayne Hape will be in tune with his adopted England rugby teammates when confronting the All Blacks at Twickenham.

For Hape, Auckland-born and with 14 Kiwis caps included on an impressive sporting CV, there will be no divided loyalties when he plays the team that could never diminish his love of the 13-man code.

The 29-year-old former New Zealand Warrior, who switched codes and allegiance in 2008 after six seasons with the Bradford Bulls, has no qualms about the third test of his late-blooming career taking place against the All Blacks.

An obvious target once the England team was confirmed today, he mirrored the attitude of former Wellington and Hurricanes pivot Riki Flutey before the corresponding fixture on the 2008 Grand Slam tour - Hape will savour every moment from singing "God Save The Queen" and staring down "Ka Mate" or "Kapa o Pango".

"I'm relishing this opportunity," he said after being named at second five-eighth - the beneficiary of Flutey's current rehabilitation from injury.

"To be given the opportunity to play against my country of birth, there is no better challenge."

Hape's test rugby career is in its infancy - he was first capped against the Wallabies at Perth in June - but the 102kg battering ram won't cower at the prospect of marking a similarly-dimensioned Ma'a Nonu.

"I'm hugely looking forward to squaring up against Ma'a and Conrad Smith. They're the best (midfield) partnership in the world and you always want to pitch yourselves against the best. It gives you an indication of where you are."

In one sense, Hape is already in a good place: historic Bath in England's picturesque West Country.

After transferring from the NRL to Super League in 2003, Hape eventually cottoned on to the code he spurned when growing up in Massey.

"Three years ago I realised I wanted to give rugby a crack and when I signed for Bath there was obviously a goal of mine to play at the highest level I possibly could," he said.

"I'm proud of where I come from but ultimately life leads everyone in different directions."

And when it comes to the haka, naturally the way this Maori views it is straight ahead and unflinchingly.

"If I give any advice to my teammates it will be to stand tall, stare them back in the eyes and let them know we will accept the challenge," he said.

"You have to stand there and respect it. Go on YouTube and watch the haka with Buck Shelford's team against Ireland. They walk forward and just spur the All Blacks on a bit more. It's like poking the bear.

"I know the cameras will be on me but I'm not going to do anything stupid or jump out and start doing the haka back," he said, reviving memories of a stirring prelude to the All Blacks mid-week fixture at Munster in 2008.

At Limerick's Thormond Park, ex-pats Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifemi Mafi and Jeremy Manning responded in kind to the All Blacks haka; a dignified reaction that set the scene for easily the spectacle of New Zealand's unbeaten tour.

England team:
Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Mike Tindall, Shontayne Hape, Mark Cueto, Toby Flood, Ben Youngs; Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Tom Palmer, Tom Croft, Lewis Moody, Nick Easter. Replacements: Dylan Harltey, David Wilson, David Attwood, Hendrie Fourie, Danny Care, Charlie Hodgson, Delon Armitage.

- NZPA