All Blacks captaincy rich reward for perseverant Patrick Tuipulotu

Coach Scott Robertson sprung a few surprises in his All Blacks squad to face Japan this weekend, one of which was Patrick Tuipulotu's promotion to the captaincy.

The veteran lock's leadership pedigree speaks for itself, having guided the Blues to their drought-busting Super Rugby Pacific title this year - a crowning moment in his long career as one of the franchise's talisman.

Now in his 47th Test appearance, the 31-year-old will lead the All Blacks on to the park in Yokohama.

According to All Blacks great Jeff Wilson, it's just reward for a player who has had to persevere through some exceptionally challenging times with injury and carries immense mana among his peers.

"When you're looking for total respect, you have to go through some adversity," Wilson told SENZ Breakfast.

"All of our great captains have been through that, and he's been to that in a number of ways with injury.

"We've started to see in the last couple of years the slow maturity and the full impact he has when he is leading the Blues. You see how much respect he has.

"He doesn't have to say a lot but when he does speak, there's a maturity and calmness about him, and real understanding about what his role is and how he can execute it."

Denied his chance to play at last year's World Cup after undergoing surgery for a hip defect, Wilson notes there were questions being asked whether Tuipulotu's body would allow him to get back to the Test arena.

Injury almost threatened to derail his championship run with the Blues this year, until Tuipulotu again proved his mettle by bouncing back from a debilitating ankle injury to make a shock return to the field for the final against the Chiefs, where he was one of the best players on the park.

He faced another setback this year, with a calf injury sustained against England in July scratching him from the majority of the Rugby Championship, returning from the bench in the final match against Australia.

"I think a lot of people had some doubts whether he would make it back to the international level," Wilson said.

"His ability was always there and now he's getting this opportunity, I'm really hoping it goes well for him.

"I think we'll see a big performance from him and this will be a game that he can dominate."

Among Robertson's rejigged side are also a pair of debutants in Peter Lakai and Ruben Love, who Wilson believes have a golden chance to lay a marker in the ground against the Brave Blossoms.

Given the All Blacks' injury issues in the loose forwards, that especially applies for utility Lakai, who Wilson says could force himself into the running for a bench spot for the rest of the northern tour - particularly if Samipeni Finau, who will start at No. 6 , continues his underwhelming form at Test level.

"Lakai has got such great versatility. He can play probably all three back row positions, and that's what he'll be covering.

"With the injuries we suffered there, what are we going to do for the remainder of this tour? What sort of impact are we looking for?

"It's just about taking that opportunity for love. Look, we all know how exciting he can be. I just hope he thinks of run, run first, kick second - run yourself out of trouble, keep the ball in hand and only go to the boot when you need to."

Listen to the full interview below: