KEY POINTS:
CARDIFF - Lock is where the heart is for Jason Eaton and is where he wants to force the All Blacks' selectors hands when they name their World Cup rugby squad in July.
Clearly ranked among the top three locks throughout this year's Tri-Nations, Taranaki and Hurricanes leaper Eaton has found himself effectively demoted to fifth on New Zealand's tour of Europe.
Ahead of Sunday morning's (NZT) final tour match against Wales here, Eaton hadn't started in any of the three tests while Ali Williams and Chris Jack have made two starts, and Keith Robinson and James Ryan one each.
Eaton's lot has been final-quarter appearances off the reserve bench in the two wins over France, where he has impressed considerably with his work rate, potentially enough to force a starting spot against Wales.
His cameo in the first French test at Lyon, was on the blindside flank, a position where All Blacks coach Graham Henry is wanting the 24-year-old to develop.
Eaton agreed the move could prove beneficial for his career but he wants to prove himself in the only position he has known in top level rugby.
"I've been a lock for many a year. I suppose it helps if I can cover both, that's something else for the selectors, But first things first, I'd like to be picked as a lock."
Henry has stated that only three specialist locks are likely to travel to the World Cup in France next year, with another player to cover lock/blindside flank.
There are at least five strong contenders at lock while Eaton could possibly snare the utility spot, with the main competition coming from Reuben Thorne, Troy Flavell and Jono Gibbes.
"If you're learning the lock's role and then you're chucked in at six, you've got to be on your game, make sure you know the calls. It presents a bit of a challenge."
At Lyon he found himself consciously thinking about his altered defensive role, something that obviously worked as he made a phenomenal 11 tackles in 20 minutes.
In the second test at Paris he was visible and pulled off what he described as a "cheeky" turnover at the breakdown, underlining the athleticism that Henry feels can fit a role in the loose.
"I've been told by various people that I'm able to read the game well," Eaton said.
"It's just natural ability, I don't think about it too much, it sort of just happens."
Eaton, who kept Williams on bench for the major tests against Australia this year at Christchurch and Auckland, said a healthy rivalry had developed between the five second-rowers on this tour.
The most fractious it becomes is during highly-competitive games of "donkey" after training, in which all five gather to test the ball skills of the others to the limit.
- NZPA
