28-05-2025
Selection for ABs next for star No 12?
How do you stop a wine barrel which is rolling down a hill?
You don't. You get out of the way, or you get flattened.
Plenty of Super Rugby Pacific players have discovered that one this year.
Highlanders second five Timoci Tavatavanawai has been the best player in the side all season and that is official.
He was named the club's most valuable player at the awards evening earlier this week.
The Highlanders co-captain picked up a bunch of other awards but all you need to know is he is hard to tackle, he tackles hard and he is adept at winning turnovers at the ruck.
And one more thing — he might be an All Black soon.
That is how Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph sees it.
"I think Timoci Tavatavanawai has been an outstanding player in every minute of every game," Joseph said when asked about his All Blacks prospects.
"Perhaps if we gave him a break, then his rugby, in terms of how he played, and this is no slight on him, could even be better.
"So I think he's got massive potential, and he would be in my All Blacks team."
The Highlanders have signed the Fijian powerhouse for another two years, and towering lock Fabian Holland has inked a three-year deal.
"It's a vote of confidence for us coaches, as well as the club, that players kind of trust our process around developing them into a great rugby player."
Tavatavanawai was more measured when assessing his international prospects.
"At the moment I'm just focusing on my game every week," Tavatavanawai said.
"I keep putting my best foot forward to be up there, that's the focus."
The All Blacks were not on Tavatavanawai's mind when he moved over from Fiji. The goal was to help support his family and to cement a position with Tasman in the NPC.
Then he got the opportunity to play in Super Rugby Pacific with Moana Pasifika in 2022-23 before moving to the Highlanders last season.
This season has been a breakthrough campaign for the robust former winger.
His ability to punch holes in the defence and his strength over the ball at the ruck have set him apart from some of the other midfielders in the country.
Tavatavanawai has carried the ball more than just about anyone else in the competition — 160 carries.
He leads the competition in defenders beaten, swatting aside 64 would-be-tacklers.
And he is in the top 10 for offloads.
The Highlanders will name their side for their final game of the season today. They play the red-hot Chiefs in Dunedin on Friday.
Tavatavanawai was looking forward to demonstrating his skills one more time this season.
So are his fans.
