[FAST FACT]

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE The last three 19-year-olds to play for the All Blacks all grew up in Auckland or in the vicinity of it. Jonah Lomu, after some time in Tonga, was raised in South Auckland as was John Kirwan, who attended De la Salle College. The most recent addition is Rieko Ioane, who won his first cap last year against Italy.

Perhaps coincidentally, Kirwan was the man who signed Ioane for the Blues when the talented youngster was still at Auckland Grammar.