Watch: Highlanders co-captain impresses with ruck turnover and 50/22

There were many standouts in the Highlanders’ triumph against the Blues on Saturday evening, none more impressive than co-captain and powerful midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai.

The blockbusting winger turned midfielder was a force to be reckoned with at ruck time, winning three turnovers against the Blues and disrupting any rhythm Vern Cotter’s side had.

The 27-year-old had nine tackles, 16 carries and a line break to keep the Highlanders within touching distance throughout the whole game, before Jamie Joseph’s side pulled away right at the death.

Originally from Fiji, Tavatavanawai broke onto the professional rugby scene in 2021 when he was selected for the Tasman Mako in the Bunnings NPC, before going on to win Tasman Mako rookie of the year.

His inspiring performances in that 2021 NPC campaign were rewarded with a Super Rugby Pacific contract with Moana Pasifika. He played two seasons at Moana Pasifika, before signing a contract with the Highlanders for the 2024 Super Rugby season.

Tavatavanawai’s move down to Dunedin in the deep south has improved his dominant playing style, putting him in conversations for higher honours.

Tavatavanawai was in and around the ruck for the Highlanders early in the second half at Forsyth Barr Stadium, waiting for an opportunity to get his hands on the ball and win a penalty.

The 27-year-old brought former All Black prop Angus Ta’avao to the ground in a powerful tackle, before quickly releasing and legally getting his hands on the ball to win another turnover penalty.

Tavatavanawai wasn’t finished there on the play, as he smartly took a quick tap in the resulting penalty and kicked the ball towards the Blues 22-meter line, where nobody was home.

The ball rolled out of play, giving the Highlanders the ball back in a superb position after their co-captain’s 50/22.

The Highlanders were able to close out the game despite being down to 14-men for the rest of the contest, after a Daniel Lienert-Brown high shot on Taufa Funaki in a cleanout.

Vern Cotter’s side will now be feeling the heat in Super Rugby Pacific, starting the new campaign with two losses against New Zealand franchises.

For the Highlanders, Joseph will be relieved to have won their first game of the season, after last week’s disappointing loss to the NSW Waratahs.

Former All Black first-five Stephen Donald has picked the Highlanders co-captain as a bolter for Scott Robertson’s first All Blacks squad in 2025, while others have highlighted the level of the quality Tavatavanawai is playing at during the first two games of the competition.

@theaftermatchshow How do you like this @Highlanders @Super Rugby fans? Big Jim catching the Oracle Beaver’s eye at 12. Who’s your All Blacks bolter for 2025? #rugby #allblacks #superrugby #sport ? original sound – The Aftermatch

Timoci Tavatavanawai has moved me in a way an NZ Super Rugby centre hasn’t moved me since Ngani Laumape was steamrolling people for the Canes. If he continues on this trajectory he’s gonna have a test rugby dilemma on his hands in a few months. #HIGvBLU

— Jordan Patu (@Jordan_Patu) February 22, 2025

If, and I say if, the Highlanders pull this victory off, then Timoci Tavatavanawai has put his name firmly into the All Black conversation.

He is everywhere, doing everything.

Highlanders taking it to the raining champs big time in Dunedin. #HIGvBLU#SuperRugbyPacific https://t.co/MClV17zJSW

— John Ferguson (@JohnBFergo) February 22, 2025