All Blacks greats urge Scott Robertson not to ‘ignore’ powerhouse back who is ‘not the status quo’
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and former Test wing Jeff Wilson.
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.
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’s struggles.
Tavatavanawai has been a standout throughout the campaign and impressed in the recent away defeats to the Hurricanes and the Crusaders.
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 squad.
‘The game follows him’
“As far as the season goes, Tavatavanawai has put forward a season that you just cannot ignore. This is not so much a ‘to prove’ segment, this is just another case of reminding or showing everyone the season he’s had,” he said on The Breakdown.
“In the last two weeks, he’s played two other Kiwi teams. He has won five turnovers more than Du’Plessis Kirifi and we’ve lauded Du Plessis’ work at the breakdown.
“The game just follows him, he has that ability where things happen.
“There was a time there [against the Crusaders] where the game got loose and everything just went through him. He can’t do anymore. They’re either going to pick him or they’re not, he just can’t do anymore.
“For me, he has to be there.”
Tavatavanawai was born and raised in Fiji but he qualifies for New Zealand through World Rugby’s eligibility laws having lived there for the past few years.
He began his professional career at wing but Jamie Joseph’s decision to shift him into midfield has proven to be a masterstroke.
As well as his obvious ability with ball in hand, the inside centre is also superb defensively and regularly wreaks havoc at the breakdown.
“I love players who are impactful in different ways and that’s what he is. You need those guys at the next level and I think his game transfers to the international game,” fellow ex-All Black Wilson said.
“You see how powerful he is over the ball, with the ball in hand and what I love is that he’s not afraid to go to the outside. He’s got a great fend, a great centre of gravity – all the things that will get him momentum at the highest level.
“His engine and fight and scrap. He’s co-captain in Dunedin, so he clearly has leadership properties. I just like the fact there’s something different about him.
“There are some guys where you see them and go, ‘they’re not the status quo’. There’s no formula to him.”
All Blacks centurion Muliaina also believes that Tavatavanawai’s versatility could benefit Scott Robertson’s side given his ability to cover wing.
“He deserves to be there based on what he’s done. It might not be second-five, it might be in the outside channels as a wing,” Muliaina said.
“I think you have him in there. I know it’s early days and it’s a few weeks away but why not?”
Other options
New Zealand are not short of options at 12, however. Jordie Barrett is the incumbent and will be available for the France series after returning from Ireland, while Anton Lienert-Brown has been a reliable performer in both centre positions.
Wilson also reckons that Quinn Tupaea is very much in the Test reckoning after a superb campaign for Super Rugby leaders the Chiefs.
“This is the best version I’ve seen of him, the way that he’s playing. He started off the season and was pretty much like a loose forward and then he’s grown,” he said.
Donald agreed and reckons he has the variety to become a regular Test player, adding: “Again, he’s a different player. We’ve talked about Tavatavanawai, Quinn is a different player to every other incumbent we have.
“Yes, he’s going to get you over the gain line but, from the start of the season to where he is now… he’s not just a complete basher, he has a passing game and awareness.
“He’s added kicking and little nudges in behind and is pretty complete now. I think he does offer something different.”
