'Dream come true': All Blacks debutant on debut against France

It might have come slightly earlier than expected, but the latest All Blacks debutant, Timoci Tavatavanawai, sure had an impact after coming on the field at the 28th minute.

The Highlanders midfielder came on to the field late in the first half after Jordie Barrett was taken from the field for an HIA, before coming back on for the second half.

Tavatavanawai, as expected, was very pleased after the Test in Wellington, making his long-awaited debut for the All Blacks.

“Oh, I really can’t explain most of all the feelings in there, donning the jersey for the first time and to get the win and lock the cup in the cabinet for the near future, it was just an unreal feeling for me,” Tavatavanawai told the media in Wellington post-match.

“To see the dream come true, and to wear the jersey and sing the national anthem, I mean especially to do the haka for the country, it’s a special feeling.

“Yeah, I wasn’t expecting that [to come on that early] but that’s footy, you gotta stay on and running on the field, I knew I just had to back myself and just do what the coaches expect me to do.”

The Highlanders co-captain admits that Test match intensity is completely different to Super Rugby Pacific, which took some adjusting out there.

“Oh man, it’s way faster than the Super Rugby. It’s another level, man, the boys were talking about how Test footy is another level, it was unreal.

To make the occasion even more special for the debutant, his family from Fiji managed to be in attendance, alongside his Blenheim family.

“My Nelson and Blenheim family, the people that brought me over, they already booked for Wellington, so that was easy, but yeah, to get my mum and my two younger siblings over to New Zealand to watch me play Test rugby here, it’s another feeling.

“Yeah, my mum was here, first professional Test footy for them and my two younger siblings, two brothers, first time flying out of Fiji and watching professional footy.

“The management worked behind the scenes to get them over here, so yeah, thanks to them for pulling the strings and making some calls to make it happen.”

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson was impressed with the 27-year-old’s debut in Wellington, despite not getting one of his trademark turnovers.

“Yeah, just played like he does, didn’t he, couldn’t quite get the chance to get on that turnover on the ball and get one of those fends in and bumps and offloads that he does, but he made a great impact and looked right at home,” Robertson told media in Wellington.

Robertson explains that Tavatavanawai is a man of few words, but his background and his story are inspiring for the whole All Blacks group.

“Yeah, it’s a pretty special weekend. He’s a man of few words, but when he did speak about himself and his nine siblings, the family’s story is pretty incredible, and he was pretty clear about what he wanted to do.

“I mean, for him to share it with his family is special for him, he said he just wants to perform, that was him, he was pretty genuine.

“Give me the opportunity, and he took those opportunities when he’s out there too, I think that’s the gift of rugby, isn’t it, everyone united through the rugby ball, and we get to play together, and his story to get here is pretty special.