Watch: Lima Sopoaga's dream All Blacks debut against Springboks that had fans calling for World Cup selection

When Steve Hansen named an enlarged 41-man All Blacks squad to play in the 2015 Rugby Championship, plenty of names stood out.

The names carrying the most interest among fans and media were the five debutants - Codie Taylor, James Broadhurst, Lima Sopoaga, Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo - included in the side.

The announcement of the squad came three months before the World Cup in England kicked off, and with 41 players needing to be trimmed down to 31 for the global tournament, there were some tough selection decisions that lay ahead.

Perhaps one of the most pertinent issues on Hansen's mind was which three first-fives he would pick as part of New Zealand's quest to clinch back-to-back world crowns for the first time in history.

Legendary playmaker Dan Carter was obviously locked in as a first-choice selection, but a season-ending knee injury to second-string pivot Aaron Cruden during that year's Super Rugby campaign opened a spot for players who would otherwise have been considered outsiders to make the cut.

Leading the charge for the second place in the first-five trio was a young Beauden Barrett, who had regularly been in the All Blacks environment since 2012 and was impressive in guiding the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby final in nearly a decade.

Being able to also cover wing and fullback, the then-25-year-old's utility value was seen as a valuable asset from off the bench.

For that same reason, 20-test Crusaders utility Colin Slade was also in contention to attend his second World Cup following the success of New Zealand 2011, but his place as the squad's third-choice pivot was under severe threat from an uncapped wonder.

Enter Lima Sopoaga, the then-24-year-old playmaker who - after a tumultuous journey in Super Rugby since debuting for the Highlanders in 2011 - had steered the Dunedin club to their maiden title in stunning underdog fashion earlier that year.

Later crowned the best New Zealand player in Super Rugby for that season, his form was undeniable, as was the case for every other player from the Highlanders in that inflated All Blacks squad.

So, while Carter and Barrett loomed as very warm favourites to board the plane to England in September, the race was on between Slade and Sopoaga to join them.

The historic test between the All Blacks and Samoa in Apia aside, a match of which Highlanders and Hurricanes players - including Sopoaga - were unavailable for due to the Super Rugby final, there were only four matches for the duo to convince Hansen that they deserved selection.

Slade had the first crack, coming off the bench to replace the injured Naholo in a 39-18 victory over Argentina in Christchurch in their first match of the Rugby Championship.

By replacing the Highlanders flyer, Slade illustrated his versatility across the backline, an aspect of his game that was much more vast than what Sopoaga could offer.

"https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11487062">New Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue noting that Sopoaga had a "very satisfying for a debut in tough arena".