mens
international
All black people head coach Dave Rennie offered insight into what keeps Timoci Tavatavanawai back in the New Zealand selected image revealing bruises Highlanders star was challenged to improve his work rate.
One of the most potent backline threats in the game, Tavatavanawai has beaten 81 defenders in 13 games for the Highlanders this season, leading the category for the second year in a row with 17 more than the next best player, Leictester Fainga’anuku.
Also an elite threat for the Jackals, the 28-year-old’s point of difference is well known to the Kiwi faithful, but Tavavtavanawai’s Test career totals just 39 minutes of game time. Some non-Test minutes came his way during rugby’s biggest rivalry, but with Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupae forming a world-class center partnership, opportunities on the international stage were hard to come by for ‘Big Jim’.
Rennie offered more details when asked about another lapse in team naming last week.
“So Big Jim is fantastic when he’s around the ball; his carry, tackle and dunk are great,” the coach replied.
“His work rate has gotten better, and that’s a constant focus for him. The type of game we play, we need our midfielders to do a hell of a lot with the ball and stuff, so we feel the guys we’ve picked are better in that area.
“But he did well. That was the reason we took him to South Africa: we wanted him to make a difference in that area. We felt if we didn’t get him there and get him going, he probably wouldn’t be an option at the World Cup.”
“So he’s done well and maybe he’ll be playing, if not next week, then on the end of year tour.”
Indeed, at every All Blacks training window attended by the media South Africa and Baltimore, Tavatavanawai and rookie teammate Semisi Ta’eiloa were seen running. While each position group worked on their specific skill setโpassing playmakers under pressure, kickers kicking, punters scramblingโTavatavanawai and Ta’eiloa worked on their cardio.
Another development in the story of Tavatavanawai was his wearing the number 13 jersey for Tasman two weeks ago, just the third time he has been named center in his professional career.
โWe didn’t ask for that,โ Rennie said. “We’re happy he’s playing. I mean, it’s a bit like us; our midfielders can wear 12 and 13, but sometimes they switch roles. Obviously, they’ve got David Harriley down there and Jim, so I bet they tend to switch.”
