• Former All Blacks Under-20 knows secrets from Hurricanes • Shields ‘in the conversation’ for selection before England move

Brad Shields knows the messages will start arriving soon. Having left New Zealand provincial rugby last summer to chase his dream of playing for England, the 27-year-old knows the All Blacks rather better than he does his new teammates and facing the haka at Twickenham will be almost like gazing into a mirror.

If anything, it is his former Hurricanes teammates such as Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea who will feel even more disconcerted. Shields was their Super Rugby captain until recently; now, according to Ben Youngs, he is divulging their trade secrets.

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“Brad’s knowledge is really important because he was at the Hurricanes,” said Youngs. “He can tell us what the guys he has played with don’t particularly like and the traits they have in their game. We don’t just want to contain the All Blacks, we want to throw our gameplan at them.”

Among the nuggets of information England have absorbed is that Barrett carries the ball more than anyone else in the All Black team. “I didn’t know that until this week,” said Youngs. “It’s an amazing stat.”

Inside the All Blacks dressing room not everyone sounds so thrilled. “It is a bit funny,” said the lock Brodie Retallick. “He was running around for the Hurricanes and the next minute he’s playing for England.”

The hooker, Codie Taylor, suspects a few words will be exchanged. “Maybe between the Hurricanes boys there might be a bit of stick. Maybe he’ll have something to say to his buddies out there.”

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Should England beat the All Blacks on Saturday, however, Steve Hansen and his assistants will inevitably find themselves being asked why they collectively allowed the New Zealand-reared flanker to slip away.

Hansen’s assistant, Ian Foster, has already given a pretty honest assessment. “I guess the obvious answer is the selectors didn’t pick him. When you’re selecting a national team, there’s a whole lot of good players that don’t quite make it. I’m not going to give you reasons why we didn’t pick him. But what we do know is that he is a quality person, he did a great job off the field at the Hurricanes and he was in the conversation a lot with us.”

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Having represented the All Blacks at under-20 level, made his provincial debut as a teenager and recorded a century of appearances for the Hurricanes, Shields was on the verge of All Blacks tour selection last year but, ultimately, chose to move to Wasps and made a rapid England Test debut in South Africa in June on the basis of his parents’ nationality. Before he departed New Zealand he left England shirts in the drawers of Barrett and Dane Coles as a parting gift, which may or may not have been a wise move.

“I think we’ve got over the stage of seeing him in a white jersey now,” said Foster. “He’s just a loosey who plays for England.”

With Tom Curry ruled out for the remainder of the autumn series after damaging an ankle in Saturday’s 12‑11 win over South Africa – Bath’s Sam Underhill has replaced him in the 25-man squad for this weekend – Shields looks certain to feature in some capacity. If so, he already has a fair idea how it might feel. “What’s the old saying: ‘Enemies on the field and best friends after the game?’ That’s my mentality.

“I played with a few of the guys for a number of years so there are friendships and relationships there but you’re out on the field to do a job.

“I don’t think it’s about proving a point. As soon as you start to overthink things, that will affect the performance of the team. I’ll do my best for the squad and try to put my best foot forward, otherwise you’ll look like a bit of a sham out there. You’ve got to perform or you’re no good to anyone.”