Former All Black reveals SOS call that led to shock call-up for NPC Final

Former All Black Hika Elliot has revealed the SOS call he received to play in this weekend’s NPC Final at Sky Stadium. While Elliot has never played for the Wellington Lions before, the hooker will don the black and yellow strip as the men from the capital chase provincial rugby glory.

Elliot will turn 39 in just a matter of months, but the chance to help Wellington win the prestigious title was too good to turn down. The four-Test All Black has been called in after a strong season in the Heartland Championship with South Canterbury.

The former Hurricanes and Chiefs enforcer was actually named in an initial 25-man Heartland XV squad ahead of clashes with a New Zealand Maori Selection and the New Zealand Barbarians. But, Elliot has sidestepped that opportunity for another.

On Thursday, both Wellington and Bay of Plenty named their teams for the NPC Final. The Lions named a star-studded First XV which includes the likes of captain Du’Plessis Kirifi, former England international Brad Shields, and former All Black Julian Savea.

But with the name ‘Hikawera Elliot’ listed next to the No. 16 jumper, it’s safe to say that many were left a tad confused in New Zealand. Before the NPC decider, the man himself has explained how exactly this chance to debut for the Lions came about.

“I got an SOS call from Alando Soakai on Sunday night. We’re celebrating my daughter’s birthday actually," Elliot said on SENZ's The Run Home.

“It was a bit of a shock… Soaks ended up calling me and made the SOS call. We had some admin stuff that we needed to run by the NZR, then I flew up on Tuesday morning and straight out onto the rugby field off the plane.

“… (NZR) deliberated for the day on Monday and got back to us late night on Monday.

“When the opportunity came to play in a Final, even though I haven’t played for the Lions and I’m making my debut and I spent my time in the Heartland, but hey, what a bloody story to tell in a few years times.”

The Lions finished on top of the ladder at the end of the round-robin, but another injury to one of Wellington’s hookers prompted that SOS call. Penieli Poasa has been ruled out of Saturday’s Final, while Leni Apisai has received the nod to start for the fourth match in a row.

While there’s no doubt that Elliot will add plenty as a much-needed reinforcement off the pine, it’s not as if the former Maori All Black could just waltz into an NPC Final. Even at 38 years of age, there’s still a lot of homework the experienced campaigner needed to do.

“I’ve had to get across the whole lineout menu and new calls and understanding their structures and stuff,” Elliot explained.

“There has been actually quite a bit of bookwork this week.

“There’s starting to become some clarity and we had a good hit out this afternoon so I’m actually feeling really, really comfortable moving forward.”

In the Lions’ starting side, Xavier Numia and Siale Lauaki will pack down on either side of Apisai in the front row. Hugo Plummer and Akira Leremia start in the middle row, while Caleb Delany, Kirifi and Shields form a formidable loose forwards combination.

With Elliot set to add impact along with fellow front rowers Yota Kamimori and Bradley Crichton, there’s a lot to like about the makeup of this Wellington team. If the Lions can get it right and go on to win this decider, it could be a fairytale finish for a genuine icon of New Zealand rugby.

“I think given the circumstances and it’s a Final, for me, I’m 39 in a couple of months.

“I haven’t played an NPC Final so having an opportunity to, who knows, maybe hang up the boots after this one, it’s a good way to go out.

“To be honest, they were struggling with hookers, that’s why I got the call. If the call (to come off the bench) comes early or later, I’m just going to make sure that I’m across my role.

“If I can nail my detail then rugby will take care of itself. I’m pretty pumped given the situation and how this whole thing’s unfolded. I’m pumped, I’m pumped.”