Cutting his teeth – Christian Lio-Willie's rapid rise to the All Blacks
"I just sort of numbed out. Don't even know [who] the second half of the team was," said Lio-Willie about finding out he had been selected for the match at a sold out Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"Obviously been the roller coaster of emotions. And just feeling just proud and humbled in the journey that got me here."
While Lio-Willie has undoubtedly impressed many over the last couple of seasons, he was been boosted along for the last part of that journey. He wasn't even named in Scott Robertson's initial squad, however, was brought in as injury cover immediately. Now he will be pulling on the number eight jersey, part of an intriguing first lineup of the All Black season.
Christian Lio-Willie scores during the Super Rugby Pacific match, Crusaders v Reds, Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch.
Photo:
Iain McGregor/ActionPress
Lio-Willie joins Ardie Savea and Tupou Vaa'i in a surprising loose forward trio. The common feeling was that he would enter the test arena via the bench, if at all this week, but the move is a real show of confidence by coach Scott Robertson.
"I think as a loose forward group, we've been pretty real connected and there's a lot of trust between us. Not only just to help each other out but trusting that the other man in the group is going to do his job," said Lio-Willie.
The trio are up against a French loose forward group that only has 11 test caps between them - with 10 of those belonging to Mickaël Guillard. Lio-Willie said that experience of being around Ardie Savea has been pivotal in his development as a player.
"I think that's the sort of confidence that I take, being a newcomer into it. Just the likes of Ardie, he's someone I've always watched and looked up to. The amount of trust he's had in me now, just not having to nitpick what I do. But always being there, that I can lean on, to help me get better in my role."
Of course, all eyes will be on Lio-Willie when he runs out as an All Black on Saturday night. Despite the All Blacks' large advantage, there will still be massive scrutiny on the way the team performs no matter what the winning margin.
"I know if I get caught up in the moment, I won't be present," he said.
"So for me, it's just nailing the job and knowing that, just trusting in my skill set and trusting in the game that I want to play. I know that it is another game for me that I have to step up to with the black jersey. But just the spectacle of it, I sort of take away from it - we've got a lot of messages and stuff coming from around, from so many people."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
5 hours ago
- 1News
'Express yourself' - All Blacks skipper Barrett backs new boys to shine
All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett says he has full confidence the four Test debutants named to play France in Dunedin tomorrow will replay the faith show in them by the selectors. Lock Fabian Holland and No.8 Christian Lio-Willie will start against France, with prop Ollie Norris and loose forward D'Plessis Kirifi potentially making their debuts off the reserves bench. And of them all, Barrett, not known for overly praising his teammates, reserved the highest of compliments for Kirifi, the 28-year-old Hurricanes player who has had to bide his time. When pressed today after the captain's run under the roof on a drizzly day in the deep south about why he believed the team would be fully aligned despite the several new faces, Barrett replied: 'Du'Plessis and Fabian – both of those boys were in and around the group for the majority of the northern tour last season. 'I actually said to Du'Plessis that he's certainly ready for Test match rugby. He plays a physical game, combative, loves the breakdown. He's going to be a real asset to this team.' ADVERTISEMENT That qualifies as gushing for the circumspect Barrett, who will pack down alongside Holland in the second row, with another lock, Tupou Vaa'i, named at blindside flanker in what is easily the biggest selection surprise. Ardie Savea, left, trains with Du'Plessis Kirifi at the captain's run in Dunedin. (Source: Photosport) 'We're right in behind those boys and they have proud families in behind them,' Barrett said. 'As always it's about them going out there and expressing themselves in the jersey – trusting themselves and their instincts. 'Tupou has had another great Super Rugby season and is getting more and more experienced at Test match level. It's a great asset to us if he can play lock or six.' The All Blacks have lost three Tests in a row to France – their last defeat coming in November in Paris – and Barrett said winning a certain trophy back was high on the agenda in the midst of plenty of commentary about an inexperienced French team. France have included five players on debut in the starting XV, with three more on the reserves bench. 'We're certainly not reading anything into this being a 'weakened' French side… you have to give them the utmost respect and we've certainly given them that. The Dave Gallaher Trophy is on the line. We haven't had much success in recent years against the French so we're looking to turn that around.'
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
Big night looms for Otago's new All Blacks
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 / "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?" Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
First All Black test of the season approaches
Scott Robertson has named an intriguing side to take on France under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium. One day out from the first All Black test of the season and one debutant cutting his teeth this weekend has revealed a surprising skill. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
