Kiwi rookies shine bright
ALEX FIDOW (HURRICANES)
Eye-catching haircut and eyecatching ball-in-hand work from the big Wellington tighthead prop, showing just how fearsome he could be in his debut Super Rugby season.
The carries of the former New Zealand under-20s rep were immense. Better yet was to come when he hung out on the right wing against the Brumbies and bagged two tries.
ETHAN BLACKADDER (CRUSADERS)
From good stock – the son of former All Black and Crusaders coach and player Todd – the 22-year-old has showed some great signs of his own.
In a game made for the flyers out wide with the fancy footwork, the Tasman flanker did all the basics right to help his dominant side, with some lovely vision, presence of mind and execution of skills to the fore. Early against the Hurricanes he took a tough catch round the ankles and did well to reach out and score.
TEVITA NABURA (HIGHLANDERS)
Decked out in highlighter green, the towering presence out wide was hard not to notice in any case, but certainly made a massive impact.
The 25-year-old Fijian-born winger, who has featured for his country of birth on the World Sevens circuit and played for Counties Manukau in last year’s NPC, has landed his first Super Rugby contract, and could be a real weapon if he gets game time.