AB with Kiwis dad

have been keeping a close eye on him.

‘‘He’s a big lump, he’s a guy that’s still got a bit of work to do, but we like what we see – he’s getting better as a tighthead,’’ selector Grant Fox said on Monday.

‘‘We will get a chance to get our hands on him and hopefully polish him a little bit more.

‘‘He’s an exciting young prosect for the future.’’

Kickoff: Venue: TAB odds:

Friday, 7.35pm Trafalgar Park, Nelson Tasman $1.82, Canterbury $1.97

Kickoff: Venue: TAB odds:

Saturday, 5.05pm Eden Park, Auckland Auckland $1.67, Wellington $2.20

Kickoff: Venue: TAB odds:

Saturday, 2.35pm FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton Waikato $1.28, Northland $3.60

Kickoff: Venue: TAB odds:

Saturday, 7.35pm Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Otago $1.37, Hawke's Bay $3.05

The All Blacks have not flooded him with homework before flying to Japan, instead allowing him to concentrate on helping Tasman win their first national provincial title.

Tyrel will likely get a crack at one of his new teammates in Nelson tonight, when Tasman host Canterbury in the first of two premiership finals.

All Blacks loosehead Joe Moody will play for the reigning champions, before leaving for Yokohama to prepare for the third Bledisloe Cup test.

‘‘I’m very excited for that, he’s probably the best loosehead in the world at the moment,’’ Lomax said.

‘‘The final [we lost against Canterbury] last year left a bitter taste in our mouths.

‘‘So, to get another crack is a good thing, especially at home,’’ he said.