Proctor ‘buzzed out’ by ABs selection
It was a door Matt Proctor seemed tentative about walking through.
As things stood, during Wellington’s clarity session in Kilbirnie yesterday, he was Matt Proctor Lions captain, helping the team prepare for Saturday’s Mitre 10 Cup semifinal against Auckland.
But, as soon as he was reunited with his phone, the centre knew he had immediately become Matt Proctor All Black, with messages and congratulations galore after being selected for November’s test against Japan in Tokyo.
Sometimes, when your childhood dream suddenly comes true, you need a few minutes to take stock.
‘‘I’ve got a few texts but I’m saving them till after training to reply, in case it’s a long talk or whatever. Just get through this day first,’’ Proctor said
‘‘It [the All Blacks announcement] happened just before our team meeting, so I put my phone away to focus on this for now. I’ll go and have a look at it soon and see the messages and reply to who I need to.’’
Proctor might have been declared the best centre in New Zealand by Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd earlier this year, but that’s not the kind of talk that sits well with him.
A quiet, thoughtful chap, the 25-year-old isn’t one for bold statements or flashy footy.
He’s just an immensely accurate and clever player, particularly on defence, who tries hard not to let anyone down. The idea of tuning in to yesterday’s All Blacks squad announcement on social media would’ve seemed presumptuous or egotistical to a modest man like him.
‘‘Some of the boys were watching that Facebook Live thing and we were just in the changing room and [the squad] got put on the team chat. That’s how I found found out,’’ Proctor said.
He’s one of the 19 who will assemble in Tokyo for the November 3 clash with Japan, as part of the All Blacks’ two-pronged approach to their end-of-year tour. It’s a slightly unusual situation with players such as Proctor in Japan, while the team’s real heavy hitters are in London preparing to play England the following week.
Not that Proctor’s feeling any less humbled by his selection.
‘‘I’m still pretty buzzed out by this. It’s pretty cool.
‘‘It’s probably in the back of the mind of everyone who plays Super Rugby in New Zealand and it’s a pretty big honour and to be able to be named today is pretty special.’’
Serious shoulder and sternum injuries have slowed Proctor’s potential progress in the last two seasons and just staying on the park was his goal as Wellington captain. Making the All Blacks has been a very unexpected, and slightly overwhelming, bonus.
‘‘Definitely when I first heard it – I don’t quite know how to explain the feeling – but I was quite proud of myself. That’s what you dream of as a little kid and even just to be named, not to play a game, but just to be named is a pretty big honour in itself.
‘‘I’ve tried to just be thinking about the Lions at the moment and my head’s where it’s supposed to be for now. The emotional stuff might come a bit later on when I pick up my phone and go home to see my mum and my family.’’