Holland completes All Blacks 'great story' to debut against France / Photo: Sanka Vidanagama - AFP
Holland completes All Blacks 'great story' to debut against France
New Zealand coach Scott Robertson on Thursday hailed the "great story" of lock Fabian Holland after he was named as one of four uncapped players to face France in the first Test in Dunedin.
Holland and No.8 Christian Lio-Willie will start against France on Saturday, while prop Ollie Norris and flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi will come off the bench.
"This is a huge moment for these men and their families," Robertson said.
Holland, 22, was born in the Netherlands and will complete a path to the All Blacks Robertson described as "a great story".
"He's pretty excited, you know. From Zeeland to New Zealand, he's come a long way.
"It's pretty single-minded for a 14-year-old to make that call to come over and represent another country in the game he loves.
"It's movie sort of stuff, isn't it?"
Holland grew up in the small town of Castricum, just outside Amsterdam.
In 2014, when Holland was 11, the All Blacks Sevens team trained at Castricum Rugby Club.
It sparked a dream to move to New Zealand, to play alongside the players he idolised and had posters of on his bedroom wall.
He met sevens captain DJ Forbes and a young Akira Ioane. On Saturday night he'll line up alongside Akira's brother, Rieko Ioane.
Robertson said it was fitting Holland would make his All Blacks debut under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, his home ground for the Otago Highlanders in Super Rugby.
"I am sure Fabian's Highlanders supporters, and Christian's Otago fans, will be out in full force," Robertson said.
- Lio-Willie homecoming -
Lio-Willie had a standout season with the Canterbury Crusaders as they won an eighth Super Rugby title in nine years.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Lio-Willie also, having represented Otago in provincial competition since 2021, after the local Kaikorai Rugby Club brought him south from Auckland.
"The coach at the time, Ryan Martin, came up to Auckland when I was at school, at Massey High, and he's the one that got me down here," Lio-Willie said.
"I haven't played for any other club. I'm actually one away from 50 (appearances), so it's a pretty special place to me."
The 26-year-old said he and Holland made their Otago debuts together, and to be taking the step up to the All Blacks was a "full circle moment".
Beauden Barrett will start at fly-half, picked ahead of Damian McKenzie, while Ioane, who has been playing in the centres for Auckland Blues, is on the wing.
Robertson said McKenzie would offer a change of pace off the bench.
Tamaiti Williams, Tyrel Lomax, Wallace Sititi and Luke Jacobson miss out because of injury.
New Zealand (15-1):
Will Jordan; Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane; Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard; Christian Lio-Willie, Ardie Savea, Tupou Vaa'i; Fabian Holland, Scott Barrett (capt); Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Ollie Norris, Pasilio Tosi, Samipeni Finau, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Cortez Ratima, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie.
A.Taylor--RTC
