Ireland was always the dream for Boss
Despite growing up in New Zealand, scrum half Isaac Boss insists his dream was always to play in the green of Ireland rather than tog out for the All Blacks.
Boss was born in Tokoroa, the same North Island town as Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper, but with a grandmother from Glenarm, Co Antrim, Boss was drawn to the prospect of playing for the Emerald Isle.
"Ever since I was a kid I always had dreams and aspirations about going across to Ireland, that's why I left when I did," he said.
"If I had become an All Black I don't think I would have been a very good one because I never had the dream to wear the All Black jersey.
The Kiwi has little room for sentimentality on his return to New Zealand with his mind focused on doing a job for Ireland.
"Everyone strives to make the World Cup," he said.
"It's nice to be 'home' but that's a sidetrack, it's not about proving to anybody that I could have been an All Black."
Having spent brief spells with Super 15 clubs the Chiefs and the Hurricanes, Boss took a step towards his Irish ambitions by signing for Ulster in 2005, before moving to Leinster last year where he and Eoin Reddan battle for the number 9 spot.
"I think it's improved both our games," he said about his competition with Reddan.
"It's definitely the reason why I've come back into the green jersey."
Boss shows no regrets or conflicting emotions about playing on home soil for his adopted country and is more eager than ever to prove his pride in the green jersey.
"One of our games (v. Russia) is in Rotorua, that's half an hour away from where I grew up. It'll be great if I can get on the pitch there."
