Darren Shand

He was very close to playing New Zealand level.

So I used to train really hard with him.

And I'm a bit of an over-functioner, so I just put everything into it.

And I went to a tournament.

I think it was a New Zealand Under 21 tournament and got selected for that side, and I was 16.

I had no confidence.

I constantly undersold myself.

And I remember I played a few games for that team.

We didn't play any one internationally.

We just played an internal tournament.

But next year I went to uni in Dunedin.

And there was, I think, a Junior World Cup that year.

And I was like, oh, I've got to make it.

I put so much pressure on myself.

I did no orientation in my first year.

The boys that I roomed with on the ground floor of Orana Hall and they were trying to drag me out.

I was like, no, I'm in the gym, I'm practising, I'm running.

And they constantly laugh about me with my cones down in the indoor room at Orana Hall practising so much.

Anyhow, I missed the team that year.

I think I ended up being a non-travelling reserve.