But he lasted just one minute of Test rugby in New Zealand in 2005 after a shoulder injury following a spear-tackle from All Black pair Keven Mealamu and Tana Umaga.
The team was captained by Brian O'Driscoll, but his tour ended after just two minutes of the first Test when he was controversially 'spear' tackled by Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu and dislocated his shoulder.