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Auckland, New Zealand. In barefoot, backyard games of rugby with neighbors and friends, Aaron Cruden rehearsed the moves that might wow a Rugby World Cup final crowd, imagining their cheers of appreciation and the warm glow of victory.

On Sunday, after a remarkably short space of time and by a route strewn with pitfalls never conceived in those boyhood dreams, the 22-year-old Cruden will run onto Eden Park in the All Blacks’ No. 10 jersey, in a match that could see the end of the New Zealand’s barren World Cup years, which began before he was born.

“I think every kid [dreamed of winning the World Cup] and if they say they didn’t then they’re lying,” Cruden said. “I was out there practicing, maybe kicking the winning goal or scoring the winning try, and those are just things you look back on now and think ‘oh wow.’ I’ve got the opportunity to play in a Rugby World Cup final, so it’s pretty special.”

Cruden was born in 1989, two years after New Zealand beat France 29-9 at Eden Park in the final of the first World Cup to claim the William Webb Ellis trophy, which, in five world tournaments since, has remained painfully elusive to the All Blacks.

Asked if he was surprised that no New Zealand team had won the World Cup in his lifetime, Cruden said, “Not really, no. I suppose hopefully that can change on Sunday. That’s definitely what we’re aiming for.”

When Cruden wove his childhood fantasy of World Cup glory, he couldn’t have imagined that the real story would be far more rich and poignant, containing more twists and frights than most fairy tales.

To get to the World Cup final, he not only had to reach the peak of his sport — a long and trying journey on its own — but he also had to overcome grievous health problems, fluctuating form and his initial non-selection in New Zealand’s World Cup squad.

After a battle with tuberculosis in his teens, and when his career as a first-class rugby player was just beginning, Cruden was diagnosed with testicular cancer when he was 19 years old. He underwent surgery and then two months of chemotherapy.

“That was a big shock. … My life was just beginning, my rugby was just starting to go well,” he said in a 2008 interview.

After a debilitating course of treatment, Cruden was given the all-clear. His cancer was in remission and, within months, he was selected for the New Zealand under-20 rugby team.

In February 2010, Cruden graduated from the Manawatu provincial team into the Wellington Hurricanes and the Southern Hemisphere’s premiere professional rugby competition, the Super 14. Only four months later he made his All Blacks debut as a replacement against Ireland.

He played six tests in his international debut season, all but one as a replacement. But in his final test in 2010, and in his first start for New Zealand, his dream began to unravel: he played poorly as New Zealand scraped to a 23-22 win over Australia, and he was subsequently dropped from the All Blacks squad.

He hadn’t been able to reclaim his place by the time New Zealand’s 30-man World Cup team was named. He was omitted as the All Blacks selectors decided to choose Colin Slade as the only backup to Dan Carter.

But when Carter tore a groin ligament immediately prior to New Zealand’s last pool match against Canada, Cruden received a call from head coach Graham Henry to join the team.

He was named on the bench for the quarterfinal against Argentina, and after only 33 minutes of that match was thrust into action as a replacement for Slade, who also strained a groin muscle. Cruden played confidently and helped steer New Zealand to a 33-10 win, setting up a semifinal against Australia in which he took the starting role.

Against the Wallabies, Cruden played with a poise well beyond his years, managing the All Blacks’ game with a calm efficiency and assuming a leading role in New Zealand’s 20-6 win.

Three weeks ago, New Zealanders had begun to fear that Carter’s injury would dash their hopes of ending a two-decade run of World Cup failures. But on Sunday, the All Blacks will go into the World Cup final against France with a nation behind them, confident in Cruden’s ability to do the job.

“I’m just humbled and blessed to be back in the squad and to be given this opportunity,” he said.

Associated Press