Scott Waldrom still cannot believe he's an All Black © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Players/Officials: Scott Waldrom

Tournaments/Tours: New Zealand tour

Teams: New Zealand

New All Black Scott Waldrom was still pinching himself tonight as he prepared to board a plane for an exotic rugby outpost.

Waldrom, 28, is one of seven debutants in a 35-strong New Zealand tour party, whose first stop is Hong Kong for the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup test against Australia next weekend.

"I'm still kind of in a phase where I'm not sure if I'm meant to be here," the Taranaki loose forward said.

"Maybe the day I get to wear the black jersey will be the day it sinks in."

After Hong Kong, the All Blacks have a Grand Slam schedule of tests against Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England, as well as a midweek fixture in Ireland against European Cup champions Munster.

Waldrom, brother of Wellington No 8 Thomas Waldrom, had been in a head-to-head battle with Waikato's Tanerau Latimer to be skipper Richie McCaw's back-up as openside flanker on tour.

The pair were pitted against each other last Wednesday during a practice match between the All Blacks' wider training group and the New Zealand Barbarians.

He was told afterwards that it was 50-50 between him and Latimer and he tried not to get his hopes up too high.

"I was a little bit confident," he said.

"But I then spent the time telling myself I hadn't made it so I didn't get hyped up and disappointed if I missed out."

Waldrom got no prior notice from coach Graham Henry that he had made the cut.

Instead, he had to wait until he heard the team on the radio yesterday morning.

"Graham made me wait all weekend and I was pretty nervous," he said.

"Thomas made it worse by saying the Wellington guys knew the night before."

Waldrom said he hadn't noticed the error in the alphabetical order at the team naming, which meant halfback Piri Weepu's name was read out before his.

His inclusion marks the latest stage of a remarkable turnaround from three years ago, when a persistent foot injury had made him think about life outside rugby.

"I had pretty much packed on the weight," he said.

"I was 106kg, about 10kg heavier than I had ever gone in the gym. It was purely no weights and a KFC diet. I finally got back into shape and it's amazing to end up here."

His said his foot was "still battling along".

"We'll see how it goes at this level of rugby."

With prop John Afoa carrying a knee injury, Greg Somerville has joined the tour party as back up for the Hong Kong test before he takes up his club contract in England.

However, fullback Mils Muliaina has stayed behind to be with partner Hayley, who is due to give birth to their first child.