Nemani Nadolo was the equal-leading Super Rugby try-scorer for 2014 © Getty Images

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If fate had handed Nemani Nadolo a different hand, he could have been lining up alongside his cousin at Twickenham later this year wearing the green and gold of Australia. Instead if the unpredictability of a World Cup year still grants Nadolo the chance to face Australia, then he will be standing alongside his Fijian team-mates tackling Tevita Kuridrani's Wallabies in Cardiff.

"There were talks over that regarding the Wallabies, that whole 'could have been, should have been'," Nadolo told ESPN. "That ship has sailed. I am happy with Fiji."

He knows that to keep his place in the Fiji side, he must shine at domestic level and his focus is both in Christchurch and in Japan. Had the Crusaders not come about, he would have happily stayed put in Japan. He loves playing for the Green Rockets and has embraced the challenges that come playing in foreign land. At 6'5" and 130 kilograms, he inevitably stands as one of the biggest backs in the league but he has found a home from home in Tokyo.

"It's become a way of life for me," Nadolo said. "I have embraced the culture and I'm really enjoying my life here. Ordering food and getting around was a challenge. But you can either embrace the culture and study a bit or choose not to. There are a lot of people here who find the way of life tough but as the months go on, your Japanese improves and you have enough to get yourself a meal."

The season is now nearly at an end in Japan and Nadolo will then switch back into Crusaders mode and he is fully aware of the dangerous second-season syndrome. Teams start to work out how to stop attacking threats and Nadolo will be a marked man after his remarkable first season of Super Rugby with the Crusaders which saw him joined at the hip with Israel Folau at the top of the try-scoring charts on 12 last term.

It was a breakthrough campaign that was a while coming. Nadolo's career started in Australia when he moved to Brisbane at three months old and despite flirting with football at an earlier age, he was never going to be anything other than a rugby player. "It runs pretty deep in the family" is Nadolo's take on his strong rugby-roots. His father Isei Nasiganiyavi played for Queensland and was in the Wallabies squad in 1989. Then there is younger brother Chris Kuridrani on the Reds' books and cousins Tevita and ex-Wallaby Lote Tuqiri.

But he never settled in the Australian rugby scene despite trialling for the Waratahs back in 2010. A spell at Bourgoin followed and he then joined Exeter. The early signs were promising, he was involved in a spectacular Exeter try where his catch and offload put Sereli Naqelevuki away against Northampton but he only played four games there. "People think I left there because of a drinking fine, but I'm keen to put the record straight," Nadolo said. "I left on compassionate grounds."

Nemani Nadolo will likely line up in the centres for Fiji © Getty Images

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It is in Christchurch where he settled originally on a six-month deal - a city still in the rebuilding process after the tragic 2011 earthquakes - and when he first arrived he was met with an environment where winning is paramount. They are referred to as the 'second All Blacks,' such is the frequency of the pathway from Christchurch to international honours while, for Nadolo, it has been a priceless experience and one which has seen him sign on for a further two years.

"I went over there open-minded and didn't expect to play that many games. I knew I was only going there for six months originally and they were keen to keep me around. I'm happy to be going back.

"The All Blacks being the All Blacks we always want to know the inside of how they work and run. They are some of the most down-to-earth blokes you will meet. Obviously I'm a Fiji international and with the number of All Blacks you have at the Crusaders, it benefits my game and I took some methods back to Fiji. If it was about the money I'd have gone to France but it's much more than that. The experience I'm getting is invaluable. To be given another two years to experience that will only benefit me.

"They utilised me in a different way. In other places I've been, they've tried to mould me into something I'm not. They wanted me to be 90 kilos and quick. But the Crusaders knew I wasn't going to be the quickest or fittest so they utilised my strengths in a different way. That helped give me confidence. They backed my ability and once that happens, in that environment, you just really enjoy playing."

But despite his impressive showings for the Crusaders, such is the abundance of Fijian back three talent, Nadolo is likely to be found in the centres alongside Niki Goneva rather than on the flanks. Goal-kicking is in his repertoire but in his own words, "I am the slowest in the backline so I'll be feeding them the ball all day".

But such thoughts will wait. "Every professional player is hoping for that spot for their respective countries. As much as I want to think about Fiji, I need to focus on the Crusaders. There's a lot of rugby left to be played before then."

The Crusaders' season starts on February 13 against Melbourne Rebels. Nadolo is keen to increase the amount of time he has his hands on the ball and has targeted an improvement in his work-rate. The goal for the next seven months is to go one better with the Crusaders. From there, the attention will inevitably shift to international duties come September.

"We owe it to the people of Christchurch to win a title, they have been waiting a long time. Hopefully if the stars align and the rugby Gods are good to us, we can go one better and bring the bloody thing home."