Lavanini: 'Beating New Zealand U20s would've been impossible when I started'

The Highlanders have had a topsy-turvy season, but with five wins, two more than in 2025, they still have a chance to place in the Super Rugby Pacific top six.

An Achilles heel for the Southerners in 2026 has been a wobbly lineout. They rank just above the Fijian Drua and last-placed Moana Pasifika in lineout accuracy.

Losing World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year, All Blacks lock Fabian Holland, to a dislocated shoulder was bad enough. When Josh Tengblad (ACL) also succumbed, Murphy’s Law prevailed in Dunedin.

Argentinian recruit Tomás Lavanini also struggled with a head knock. The veteran is back to full fitness and aware of what’s required for the Highlanders to beat the Chiefs at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Friday night.

“I’ve been in a lot of teams where injuries have had a big impact, but you have to keep pushing,” Lavanini told RugbyPass.

“I expect the Chiefs game to be like a Test match. The Chiefs have a massive pack and focus on set-piece with their scrum and lineout maul. We have to get our lineout right with clear calls, good timing, different options, and reading what’s in front of us. It won’t be easy, it never is, but we can do it.”

The Highlanders won all 12 lineouts and stole four from the Waratahs in their vital 31-26 win last Saturday. Lavanini played the full 80 minutes for the first time since a 39-19 win against Moana Pasifika on March 27. He is eager to go the distance again.

“My role is to hit rucks, clear bodies, and get the ball quickly to our backs. They are unreal. Caleb Tangitau and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens could be All Blacks the way they are playing.

“Timoci Tavatavanawai, you don’t want to run straight at him, and once he’s on the ball, he’s impossible to move. The Vunipola brothers, Eben Etzebeth, Ben Tameifuna; ‘Jim’ is the hardest to tackle.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

5

Draws

0

Wins

0

Average Points scored

39

21

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

40%

With 91 Tests for Argentina, Lavanini has established a reputation as one of the hardest locks in the game. He debuted in a 29-18 win over Uruguay in 2013, and his career has coincided with the Pumas’ involvement in the Rugby Championship and the Jaguares stint in Super Rugby.

Lavanini has beaten the Springboks three times (37-25 in Durban in 2015, when Juan Imhoff scored three tries; 26-24 in Salta in 2016; and 32-19 in Mendoza in 2018, when Nicholas Sanchez scored all four ways). His four wins against Australia include the record 67-27 win in Santa Fe in 2024. He has also beaten France, Italy, Wales, and Scotland at least once and played in Argentina’s first win at Twickenham over England 30-29 in 2022. Emiliano Boffelli scored 25 points. Most memorably, he helped Argentina topple the All Blacks twice, 25-18 in Christchurch in 2022 and 38-30 in Wellington in 2024.

“Growing up in Buenos Aires, I played amateur rugby. It took me nearly ten years to beat the All Blacks. Imagine that,” Lavanini said.

“Rugby in Argentina has been growing every year. Many of our young players go to France, which is a tougher competition. The Americas Rugby Championship involves Brazil, Canada, Chile, USA, and Uruguay. It is not the strongest rugby, but it is improving and offers a big opportunity for our younger players. Our Sevens team is unreal; some have become fifteens internationals.

“Argentina beating the New Zealand Under-20s would have been impossible when I started. That was a huge result. I’m so proud of them. Visibility, depth, and opportunity have increased.”

The Jaguares were a game-changer for Argentina. Lavanini played 49 games, and between 2016 and 2019 their wins increased from 4 in 2016 to 13 in 2019, when they were runners-up to the Crusaders.

“The Jaguars were a special group, Argentina’s first full professional team,” Lavanini reflected.

“We trained together, played together, and were more prepared for the playing styles of South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. It would be great if the Jaguars could come back. No doubt it strengthened Argentina’s rugby.

“One of the things I enjoy about Super Rugby is that it has a shorter season. I played in France, where the season is so long it hurts. The biggest difference between the Jaguares and the Highlanders is that in New Zealand, things are so fast, unlike in Argentina. That took a while to get used to. The quality of athletes is awesome.”

Pablo Matera (121), Julian Montoya (117), Agustin Creevy (110), and Nicolás Sánchez (104) are the only four Pumas to have played 100 Tests. With a wife and two kids, life would be complete, Lavanini said, if he could reach a century himself.