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SYDNEY - A league convert who was recommended by Robbie Deans' son then rejected by the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) dons his first Wallabies jersey on Saturday - against the team he once dreamed of representing.
Timana Tahu's winding path to test rugby ends at Sydney's ANZ Stadium from the Wallabies' bench in their long-awaited Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks.
Thanks to captain Stirling Mortlock's concussion which promoted another league convert Ryan Cross to a run-on debut at centre, Tahu yesterday celebrated his test callup and retraced his uncertain early steps.
After a stellar league career with Newcastle, Parramatta, New South Wales and the Kangaroos, his future in the 15-man code was determined by several phone calls 18 months ago.
Wallabies coach Deans recalled this month how Tahu came to his attention, courtesy of his teenage son, Sam: "He said, 'If there's one bloke playing league who can play union it's this bloke - Timana Tahu'.
"I told him, 'That's an irony because he's just phoned me'."
Deans was interested in signing him for the Crusaders, but needed NZRU approval to seal the deal.
After his hopes were raised, Tahu hit a brick wall in his ambitions to become an All Black, in the form of a short, sharp rejection call.
"I did (want to play in New Zealand) at the time, but New Zealand never came to the table. I was going to go to the Crusaders, Robbie told me to go and check with NZRU but they weren't interested," Tahu said yesterday.
The Waratahs were more alert and Melbourne-born Tahu, so keen to switch codes, jumped at his first offer.
It wasn't the top choice of his late father, Tom, a Kiwi who played rugby in New Zealand and dreamed of his son wearing the black jersey.
"It started from my old man during the 2003 World Cup. I'd been thinking about switching for a while, it was a matter of who was going to pick me up. The Waratahs did and I'm happy with where I am today... I'm honoured," he said, glancing at his Wallabies tracksuit.
His rugby debut this year hit some early snags with the Waratahs in Super 14 as he struggled for game time and battled hamstring problems.
Still, Deans saw enough to name Tahu in his 30-man Tri-Nations squad this month, with a storming two-try performance for Australia A in their Pacific Cup loss to New Zealand Maori sealing the deal.
"New Zealand Maori have got some quality players, some former internationals, and that was the test for me if I was good enough to play at 12 and good enough to play a test," Tahu said.
Deans was non-committal yesterday on where he saw Tahu slotting in, if required on Saturday, but it seems he will eventually challenge Berrick Barnes for the second five-eighth's spot.
Tahu, 27, brings to four the number of Wallaby league converts in Saturday's team alongside Barnes, Cross and Lote Tuqiri.
He admitted he was still learning his rugby craft but was clear on his likely role, injuries permitting, in what promises to be another tight contest. His gamebreaking qualities and eye for a try won't harm the home side's chances in the dying minutes.
"In Super 14 I got chucked around a lot, wing or centre coming off the bench.
"It doesn't matter what position, Robbie's talked about it before, the number on your back doesn't mean a lot when you're on the field, especially if I get on in the last 10 minutes it's just going to be an open game. It'll probably be good for me, there won't be set plays."
- NZPA
