Etene the real deal on the big stage
THE noise surrounding Etene Nanai-Seturo keeps beating louder with every step the talented teenager takes for New Zealand sevens.
At the Hamilton Sevens yesterday, Nanai-Seturo demonstrated just why New Zealand Rugby and the Warriors are desperately trying to retain him as the row over who the 18-year-old can play for rumbles on.
French sevens player Paulin Riva will hope Nanai-Seturo diverts back to league after being thrown to the ground like a rag doll during New Zealand’s 52-7 trouncing of France in their opening pool game in the fourth leg of the World Sevens Series.
A rare French attack went foul, the ball was loose and scooped up by Nanai-Seturo, who then cantered towards France’s line with Riva in pursuit.
Instead of passing inside to two team-mates in space, NanaiSeturo was selfish and went alone, and the chance for another New Zealand try was surely being butchered by a young man with confidence that was too outrageous.
But the teenager had other ideas. Riva grabbed him but was quickly chucked to one side by Nanai-Seturo’s immense power.
Hamilton gasped. Riva punched the ground in disgust. Nanai-Seturo just waltzed over the line for New Zealand’s seventh try against a hapless French outfit.
Oh, to be a Warriors fan watching such talent prosper in the rival code.
Nanai-Seturo was then promoted to start in New Zealand’s second game against Scotland.
After a quiet start, he soon found space and left two Scottish defenders for dead with two dazzling sidesteps to create a try as New Zealand recorded a 24-5 victory.
A head knock meant he failed to finish the game but not before making a big impression yet again. More Sevens coverage / p18-19