Stephen Donald, Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina have become the latest former All Blacks to hail the talents of Timoci Tavatavanawai after his stunning displays for the Highlanders.<\/b><\/p>\n
The centre, who shifted from the wing at the start of the Super Rugby Pacific season, has been in outstanding form in 2025, despite the South Island outfit\u2019s struggles.<\/p>\n
Tavatavanawai has been a standout throughout the campaign and impressed in the recent away defeats to the Hurricanes and the Crusaders.<\/p>\n
Rugby World Cup hero from 2011, Donald, is particularly a fan and believes that the 27-year-old has earned a spot in the All Blacks<\/a> squad.<\/p>\n \u2018The game follows him\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as the season goes, Tavatavanawai has put forward a season that you just cannot ignore. This is not so much a \u2018to prove\u2019 segment, this is just another case of reminding or showing everyone the season he\u2019s had,\u201d he said on The Breakdown.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the last two weeks, he\u2019s played two other Kiwi teams. He has won five turnovers more than Du\u2019Plessis Kirifi and we\u2019ve lauded Du Plessis\u2019 work at the breakdown.<\/p>\n \u201cThe game just follows him, he has that ability where things happen.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was a time there [against the Crusaders] where the game got loose and everything just went through him. He can\u2019t do anymore. They\u2019re either going to pick him or they\u2019re not, he just can\u2019t do anymore.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, he has to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n Tavatavanawai was born and raised in Fiji but he qualifies for New Zealand through World Rugby\u2019s eligibility laws having lived there for the past few years.<\/p>\n He began his professional career at wing but Jamie Joseph\u2019s decision to shift him into midfield has proven to be a masterstroke.<\/p>\n As well as his obvious ability with ball in hand, the inside centre is also superb defensively and regularly wreaks havoc at the breakdown.<\/p>\n \u201cI love players who are impactful in different ways and that\u2019s what he is. You need those guys at the next level and I think his game transfers to the international game,\u201d fellow ex-All Black Wilson said.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see how powerful he is over the ball, with the ball in hand and what I love is that he\u2019s not afraid to go to the outside. He\u2019s got a great fend, a great centre of gravity \u2013 all the things that will get him momentum at the highest level.<\/p>\n \u201cHis engine and fight and scrap. He\u2019s co-captain in Dunedin, so he clearly has leadership properties. I just like the fact there\u2019s something different about him.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are some guys where you see them and go, \u2018they\u2019re not the status quo\u2019. There\u2019s no formula to him.\u201d<\/p>\n Jordie Barrett reveals New Zealand return date with \u2018Ma\u2019a Nonu on steroids\u2019 gunning for his All Blacks shirt<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n