Semesa Rokoduguni armed for fiery England debut
Fiji-born winger who served on the front lines in Afghanistan is ready to make a good impression against All Blacks
English sport in general and rugby union in particular cannot resist drawing parallels with the military.
England have gone so far as to incorporate the design of the Victoria Cross, the highest honour for military bravery available to Commonwealth armed forces personnel into their new kit.
Unlike most of the people making the comparisons, Semesa Rokoduguni - set to make his England debut against world champions New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday - has first-hand knowledge of army life.
Out there in Afghanistan you have to be on top of your drills every single time because if you mess up that can cost someone their life
The Fijian-born 27-year-old wing is in the British Army and was deployed with his regiment, the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, to Afghanistan in 2011.
Rokoduguni had only spent a week in the country when a marine he was on patrol with lost both of his legs after stepping on a landmine.
Since joining up with the England squad, after impressing for the past two years with club side Bath, Rokoduguni has been explaining the realities of service life to his new teammates.
"They've been asking me questions about the army and what it's like being out there," Rokoduguni said after being included in England coach Stuart Lancaster's starting XV.
"I told them it is pretty similar to what you guys feel - the only difference is that here there is always a next time.