Photos: All Blacks World Cup squadKEY POINTS:
To those who insist players must have been through the national age group system to make it to the All Blacks, Brendon Leonard's got news for you.
The Waikato halfback capped off a meteoric rise from Waikato reserve to All Black World Cup halfback in the space of a year yesterday as one of three No 9s off to France.
And he's done it by taking the alternative route.
Leonard, born in Morrinsville, educated at Matamata College, didn't make any age group national teams.
The closest he got was the reserve bench against Australian Schools in Wellington in 2002 - and he was the only one not to get on to the park in the New Zealand team's 9-6 win.
He missed the New Zealand Colts last year to Wellington's Alby Mathewson and Taniela Moa of Auckland. With hindsight, Leonard wonders if that wasn't a blessing.
"When I was first named in the All Blacks it was four days under 12 months since I wasn't named in the Colts," said Leonard, 22.
"Things can happen and maybe I wouldn't have been here if I'd made that team. I guess it made me a bit more hard-nosed to go out and prove myself."
A strong campaign with the Chiefs in this year's Super 14 advanced his case and his sharp running from scrum and ruck caught the national selectors' eye.
He has established himself as a player packing plenty of impact, his four tests so far all coming from the bench, but he is pushing Byron Kelleher hard for the top job.
The pair will be joined at the World Cup by Canterbury's Andrew Ellis, who has pipped Piri Weepu.
Leonard said if he could support and push Kelleher and Ellis, the All Blacks would be the ultimate beneficiaries.
Leonard impressed during Waikato's Air New Zealand Cup title march last year and got his first big chance at the Chiefs when Kelleher was on reconditioning duty this year.
Leonard said life was about taking opportunities. "I believe I've done that, and that's why I'm here today."
