Trading one black jersey for another, all five of the Vodafone Wellington Lions' current All Blacks have already made their marksin the three-Test Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales.

 

Cory Jane (Upper Hutt), Conrad Smith (Old Boys-University), Neemia Tialata (Petone) Victor Vito (Marist St. Pat's) and Piri Weepu (Wainuiomata) have all featured prominently in the All Blacks' opening two wins against Ireland and Wales.  All five of Wellington's All Blacks were on the field at the same time in the second half of the first Test against Ireland.

 

New All Black Vito has been involved in both Tests. He made his international debut off the bench against the Irish and made his starting debut at blindside flanker in the first Test against Wales, in the finalTest to be played at Carisbrook.

 

The All Blacks backs have been prominent. Playing in front of his friends and family in New Plymouth, centre Smith was a standout player in the first-up 66-28 victory over Ireland, scoring two tries and helping to run the 14-man Irish side ragged for much of the night. Smith's outstanding defensive qualities were to the fore in the 42-8 win over Wales in Dunedin, although a poke in the eye means he will be sitting out this week's second Test in Hamilton.

 

As always, Jane was in sparkling form in these first two Tests, his 75-metre runaway try against Wales a memorable play in a comprehensive New Zealand win.

 

After leading the All Blacks' haka in both Tests, Weepu came off the bench to earn his 36^th and 37^th Test caps against Ireland and Wales, his introduction at halftime for Jimmy Cowan in the first Test against Ireland helping to spark another flurry of scoring after the All Blacks led 29-0 at haltime.

 

Tialata was one of the second half try scorers against Ireland, diving over as a second half scorer for his second Test try in his 42^nd Test. Tialata sat out the first Test against Wales, but has been named to start in the front row alongside Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock in Hamilton this Saturday.