During Scott Robertson’s first year as head coach of the All Blacks, he and his coaching staff selected five uncapped players, Pasilio Tosi, Billy Proctor, Wallace Sititi, George Bell and Cortez Ratima for the first Test series of the year.
In comparison, this year, Robertson has also named five debutants in his squad to take on France in a three-match home Test series starting in early July.
Those five uncapped players are Du’Plessis Kirifi, Fabian Holland, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Brodie McAlister and Ollie Norris, who have been trusted in Robertson’s initial 33-man squad with two additional injury cover replacements.
Kirifi, who was was the captain of the All Blacks XV in 2024, says the call-up is a special moment for him and his family.
“I was just at home getting ready to watch my partner play netball, and got the call from Razor, so yeah, pretty special moment and I guess I’m very lucky to make some cool phone calls after that to Mum and Dad and my partner,” Kirifi told the Sky Sport Breakdown crew after the squad announcement.
“It’s a special day today.”
Former All Black James Parsons asked Kirifi what the message was from the All Blacks coaching group at the beginning of Super Rugby Pacific, regarding what he needed to do to be in the national selection frame.
“Just to be more consistent, be a reliable teammate and someone who’s physical on both sides of the ball.
“So, yeah, pretty simple and I have just tried to be as effective as possible as the weeks went on and I’m pretty proud of my season.”
Fij-born Tavatavanawai has been a standout for the Highlanders this season in Super Rugby Pacific and was the co-captain of the Dunedin-based franchise this season.
Tavatavanawai, who missed the initial phone call from Robertson yesterday, was stoked to be able to let his family know about the good news.
“I was just by myself, I missed a call at the start, then I saw the message, had to call Razor back and I was just by myself, doing some gardening at home,” Tavatavanawai told Laura McGoldrick from Sky Sport.
“Then my partner who was working during the moment, and she’s trying to leave work, and I told her just to stay away, we will see each other after that.
“Then I made a call to my family that look after me here in New Zealand, I called them and caught up with them for a coffee, it was pretty awesome.”
Netherlands-born Holland was speechless after finding out the special news yesterday.
“I got a call from Razor and was just gonna go out for breakfast to see my foster family, with my Mum, and my brother, and my Mum flew over from the Netherlands coincidentally and then as I was just about to sit on the couch, we got a phone call,” Holland said.
“From there on, I’m pretty sure I blacked out for a wee bit there and the only thing I could really say was yeah I’m speechless man.
“After that, it was really emotional, having all my family there and calling my old man and sister back home, so it was pretty special.”
Standing at 2.04m, the Highlanders lock explained that it means everything to him, after moving to New Zealand to chase his rugby dream.
“Yeah, it means everything, I left when I was 16, my brother and sister were about both 13, so I’ve been here for six years now.
“All the sacrifice from coming over to this moment is pretty special, I think that’s what all the emotion was about, as soon as I heard it.
“I think that’s why Mum, pretty much straight away jumped in my arms, it was very emotional.”
