Like a good wine, Marshall just seems to get better with age.

The highest capped half-back in All Black history, Marshall remains the most dominant force behind the scrum in the New Zealand game.

His 24 Test tries are a record for New Zealand, more than doubling the next best by the legendary Sid Going.

After kicking off his representative career with Southland, Marshall was lured north to Christchurch by Canterbury coach Vance Stewart where he first cracked the All Blacks on the 1995 tour of Italy and France.

Marshall became the All Blacks' 54th Test captain when he led the side in four Tests in Britain in 1997.

He is a huge influence both on and off the field and will play a key leadership role during the Lions series, and will return to Britain with the tourists to join Leeds.