'I'm one of those lucky ones': Irae Simone ready to fly to the Moon in Wallabies debut

"If I wasn't nervous, I'd be lying. Chills going through my whole body," Simone says softly from the Wallabies' quiet training base in the Hunter Valley.

But he knows he is ready to start at inside centre in a must-win Bledisloe Cup clash against the All Blacks at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday night.

When you glance at Dave Rennie's team sheet for the third match of the series, you will see Simone's name next to No. 12. When he steps onto the park, Simone will be "carrying a lot of names with me".

Like the late Geoff Moon, once Mount Albert Grammar School's director of rugby during Simone's time in Auckland. It is clear how much of an impact he made.

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"He sadly passed away a couple of years ago. He played a huge part in my career, and ... umm, sorry bro," Simone says as he glances at the ground, his voice going quiet.

Trawl through Mount Albert Grammar School's quarterly magazines and you can find the pair of them pictured together at a 2013 awards evening after Simone was named Victor Ludorum for his achievements in rugby, rugby sevens, rugby league, athletics and volleyball.

Moon was the event's keynote speaker. A man who had taught and coached the likes of boxer David Tua, and All Blacks Isaia Toeava and Kevin Mealamu said his pleasure was teaching students to love their training, to love their sport, "and then stand back and watch them fly".

"You need to pack your own parachute - take responsibility for yourself, and discipline yourself to always behave like a champion," Moon said, telling students their sporting journey was not yet over.

How right he would prove to be for Simone, whose rugby journey started with long early morning drives with his parents Anna and Laauli to get to games, "no matter where it was".

"I don't forget those moments. My mum and dad have always been the biggest critics, the biggest coaches in my career," Simone said.

"It's up to you how you take advice, I took their advice and kept working hard. I'm grateful now that I did, I'm itching now for the opportunity. I always pinch myself. I'm calling my family, my mum and dad, and they're always keeping me grounded.

"They're in Auckland, I got to see them before the game [at Eden Park a fortnight ago]. I said goodbye at the game, got very teary. It was one of the hardest goodbyes. It's always easy saying hello, it's always harder saying goodbye."

Now they will watch from afar when Simone makes his Test debut after being drafted into Dave Rennie's starting XV to cover the void left by Matt To'omua.

It is a stage ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar knew Simone was capable of performing on when he and Peter Hewat recruited him inside a Bowral coffee shop.

All Simone needed was a coach to believe in him, having grown disillusioned with rugby league as a South Sydney prospect, battling depression and struggling for a start at the NSW Waratahs.

Today he is playing for so much more. He is doing it for mum, dad and their early morning drives to games in Auckland. For Moon, a man who may be watching from above should one be inclined to believe. For his partner, and perhaps most important of all, their daughter Oakie.

"I've come from a huge, huge family, 50-plus grandkids," Simone said.

"I'm family-first on everything. All my decision now are around my daughter, it's not about me anymore. It's all about her. When I think about contracts, it's not about me anymore, I'm thinking about what's best for her and her future.

"At the end of the day I just love playing this game, I wake up and play, it's the dream. Some people would die to be in this position, I'm one of those lucky ones who gets to put on a jersey."

TRI-NATIONS | BLEDISLOE CUP

Saturday: Australia v New Zealand at Sydney Olympic Park, 7.45pm.

Wallabies squad: 1. James Slipper 2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 5. Matt Philip 6. Ned Hanigan 7. Michael Hooper (c) 8. Harry Wilson 9. Nic White 10. Noah Lolesio 11. Marika Koroibete 12. Irae Simone 13. Jordan Petaia 14. Filipo Daugunu 15. Dane Haylett-Petty. Replacements: 16. Jordan Uelese, 17. Scott Sio, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Rob Simmons, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Reece Hodge, 23. Hunter Paisami.

All Blacks squad: 1. Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Ofa Tuungafasi, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Samuel Whitelock, 6. Shannon Frizell, 7. Sam Cane (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Jack Goodhue, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Jordie Barrett, 15. Beauden Barrett. Replacements: 16. Codie Taylor, 17. Alex Hodgman, 18. Tyrel Lomax, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. TJ Perenara, 22. Ngani Laumape, 23. Rieko Ioane.