New All Blacks centre Matt Proctor rather overwhelmed by his selection for Japan HAMISH BIDWELLJOSEPH JOHNSON/STUFFSteve Hansen tells why he has selected 51 All Blacks, his feelings about government sponsorship and Matt Todd's inclusionIt was a door Matt Proctor seemed tentative about walking through. As things stood, during Wellington's clarity session in Kilbirnie on Monday, 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'd immediately become Matt Proctor All Black, with messages and congratulations galore after being selected for November's test against Japan in Tokyo. The idea of tuning in to Monday's All Blacks squad announcement on social media would have seemed presumptuous or egotistical to a modest man like him. 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.

Source: Stuff October 15, 2018 16:04 UTC