Big night looms for Otago's new All Blacks

RNZ News

16 hours ago

Dunedin is gearing up to host the first All Blacks test of the year and local fans are confident the home side can take care of a depleted French team in Ōtepoti.
A couple of local players will also debut at a soldout Forsyth Barr Stadium, making the occasion even more special for them and their families.
Kings High School rugby players performed a stirring haka to welcome a trio of All Blacks to their school for some skills and drills, with the teenagers happy to come to college in the holidays for the chance to meet the players.
One of those players was uncapped Hurricanes loose forward Du Plessis Kirifi, who will make his All Blacks debut from the bench.
Du Plessis Kirifi will make his All Blacks debut against France in Dunedin.
Photo:
Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
"It's good to see so many smiling boys and they are very skilful as well," he said.
"It's nice to be back here [at a high school], giving back to the community. It's been a big week of that, which has been nice.
"It's been reminding us all where we came from."
Kirifi is
one of four debutants
, alongside prop Ollie Norris, No.8 Christian Lio-Willie and lock Fabian Holland, with the latter pair both starting.
Christian Lio-Willie in action for the Crusaders.
Photo:
Iain McGregor/ActionPress
Lio-Willie was initially
only in the squad as cover
, before he was called up to replace the injured Wallace Sititi, and he never expected to start in Dunedin.
"Heck no, no way," he said. "When I saw my name on that screen, I just sort of numbed out.
"Don't even know [who] the second half of the team was. It's pretty awesome."
While he plays Super Rugby Pacific for the Crusaders, Lio-Willie represents Otago in NPC and plays club rugby for Kaikorai in Māori Hill. He will become the 15th All Black from the club.
"Kaikorai is a huge part of my journey," he said. "The coach at the time, Ryan Martin, came up to Auckland, when I was at school, Massey High, and he is the one that got me down here.
"I played all of my club footy for them. I love my footy down here, and the club culture and everything.
"I'm one away from 50 [games] for the club. It's a pretty special place."
All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho takes young rugby players through some drills.
Photo:
Joe Porter/RNZ
Lio-Willie looks forward to making his international debut alongside Otago teammate and Highlanders lock Fabian Holland in Dunedin.
"We both had our first starting debut together at Forsyth Barr and it's sort of a full circle moment to be able to debut together for the All Blacks in Dunedin again," Lio-Willie said.
"I've still got a lot of friends and loved ones down here that have been supporting me since day one, so I'm just keen to go out there and make them proud."
Dunedin schoolboys Isaac, Jai and Mason were at the skills session, and will cheer for Holland and Lio-Willie.
Dunedin schoolboys Isaac, Jai and Mason will be cheering on the late All Black debutants.
Photo:
Joe Porter/RNZ
The trio are confident the All Blacks can get the job done against an inexperienced
France team that contain eight debutants
.
"We'll win easy, yeah easy win, easy win," they said.
"We're way better than them. I think the score will be 100-0 to the All Blacks."
Holland, who moved to New Zealand as a teenager to chase his All Blacks dream, will also have plenty of family and friends in his adopted city supporting him.
Fabian Holland in action for the Highlanders.
Photo:
Steve McArthur
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said the 22-year-old lock was over the moon, when he found out he would start.
"From Zealand to New Zealand, he's come a long way," Robertson said. "It's a great story.
"He's pretty singleminded to make that call to come over and represent another country in the game he loves, and he saw the All Blacks as the ultimate.
"It's movie sort of stuff, isn't it?"
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