Otago's favourite son, Ben Smith, will start his first test in the fullback position for the All Blacks tonight. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn catches up with some people who have been with Smith since he first picked up the oval ball.
Dave Wootton: Coached Smith at Green Island, under-10 to under-13
''He came up to our team despite being a year younger as he was still supposed to be playing touch, or whatever they called it back then. So he was always the youngest in the team. He was a No 8 and was just the same size as the other kids. He never really stood out, to be honest. He never made any of those weight age-grade teams. I never thought he would get to where he has got. They were all pretty good players and we would have won 99% of our games. But he was just one of the boys, to be honest. He loved the tackle and got stuck in.''
Darryl Paterson: Coached Smith at King's High School
''We played him at halfback. He had an amazing pass and was captain of the team in 2004 when we managed to beat Otago Boys'. But he was not a superstar. There were other guys who were probably more the stars of the team. But he was a really diligent trainer. He would have been the fittest guy in the team. He is a great role model for the guys at King's. He stayed with us when he went to England after leaving school. That is when he started to really show some signs. It wasn't a great level but you could see he could handle it.''
Ian Arthur: Coached Smith at Otago schools/academy level
''I helped out with the schools side and he was halfback when we beat Canterbury for the third year in a row. Then he made New Zealand colts when Greg Cooper was coaching in 2007. He was the 24th player, picked at centre. They weren't going to have that extra player but they made some room for him. Not only is he a good player but you could not get a better person. He made the Otago team and then the Highlanders so he was only in the academy for one year. He was a tall, skinny lad when he was coming through and was the most unlikely-looking guy to go on to be a halfback. But he could play. You could see that. And he had a good family to work with.''
Brigid Short: Green Island chairwoman
''The club are hugely proud of him. He epitomises a player who has made the all Blacks from maybe not the most fashionable club in town, but the best club in town. He has stuck with the club he first started with. The young kids of the club think he is fantastic and he comes down and see everyone when he can. The juniors are running a raffle and the prize is to have a pizza with Ben Smith.. That is just the sort of guy he is.
Richard Kinley: Otago Rugby Football Union general manager
''For us, Ben is the consummate role model that all the young guys look up to. He has grafted hard to get where he has got to. But he has remained humble and is still very much part of Otago rugby. You would not get a better role model.''
Steve Martin: First picked Smith for Otago
''The first game he played was when Wellington gave us a thumping. It was a real baptism of fire for him. He has got such a great skill set and good evasiveness. But what really sets him apart is his vision. You could tell early on that he had time and could see things on the field. He was a creator, a guy who can create things for others on the field. I'm glad they have gone away from playing him at centre. At fullback, he has the space to create stuff and got a bit more room to move.''
Jamie Joseph: Highlanders coach
''He epitomises what a Highlanders man is. He has got solid values and is unrelenting in trying to get better. He is always the first to training and the last to leave. That is not just since he has become a starting All Black. He was doing that when I got here and he is still doing that. He more than deserves the opportunity to play in his favourite position on his home track.''