But his former First XV coach is happy to acknowledge the rising star is not a bad fit at hooker.
Bell, 22, made his All Blacks debut in the test against Fiji in San Diego on Saturday and celebrated with a try after replacing Asafo Aumua at hooker.
The proud son of an East Otago farming family and brother of Highlanders hooker Henry Bell became the sixth All Black to come out of John McGlashan College.
Matt Direen, who coached the McGlashan First XV in 2018-19 with George Bell a key member of the forward pack, recalls a talented youngster who could do it all on the field and was impressive off it.
"George had a very, very high skill level — he could have easily played at second five for us", Direen said yesterday.
"He had fantastic all-round skills.
"And he was just a really honest, straight-up, confident kid, and very mature in terms of his outlook.
"He was quite a bit of fun for the boys. They enjoyed having him around."
Bell had started on the side of the scrum as a year 11 student in the First XV but later specialised at hooker.
He now tips the scales at nearly 110kg, and while he was naturally a bit smaller at school, it was clear he had the physical tools to go far in rugby, Direen said.
"He was big-boned. You could see he was going to fill out, but nothing like the size he’s rocking at the moment.
"He was a very committed and driven player. That’s what stood out for me.
"He wanted to be successful, and he wanted to do what was required to sort of get to that next level."
Bell, who was also a handy cricketer at school, has farming in his blood and was keen to attend Lincoln University.
Direen wrote a recommendation for his young charge to be accepted into the Canterbury rugby academy, and just a couple of years later, Bell was making his Crusaders debut before he had even appeared in the NPC.
"You could see the potential was there. He just needed that really good quality coaching and support, and obviously he got that up there."
Direen caught up with Bell’s father, Johnny, before the All Blacks played England in Dunedin.
"Obviously he was bursting with pride. They’re a fantastic family."
Bell and his captain, Southland Stags flanker Leroy Ferguson, were the star turns in that McGlashan team.
Ferguson was delighted to see his old schoolmate make his test debut.
"It was a real proud moment", Ferguson said.
"I went through boarding school with George and to see all the hard work he’s put in, and to see him make the All Blacks, is unreal, really.
"I knew he was going to kick on because he was so hard-working and into his diet and his training programmes, and he just had an awesome attitude."
Ferguson said Bell, like any good farmer’s son, was always looking for ways to improve his production.
"In our last year at school, he started getting big and strong.
"He was really into making his own protein shakes. Just milk powder and Milo. Nice and simple. I think that might have been his secret."
Johnny and Tanya Bell — who were in San Diego to see their lad make his test debut — are the fifth generation at Shag Valley Station on the Pigroot, where they raised George, Henry and daughter Lucy.
The farm has been Bell country since 1863 when Sir Francis Dillon Bell, a prominent politician whose son, also Francis but known as Harry, became the first New Zealand-born Prime Minister, bought the bulk of the land.
George Bell follows Ted Stewart, Ian Botting, Ron Elvidge, Neil Purvis and Andrew Hore as McGlashan All Blacks.
