Rugby: Harris gears up for ABs debut

Nathan Harris, second from left, is set to become Bay of Plenty's 23rd All Black if he takes the field against Argentina on Sunday. Photo / Getty Images

Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris will make his All Blacks debut off the bench against Argentina in the red-hot atmosphere of La Plata, Buenos Aries on Sunday morning.

Harris, 22, replaces Dane Coles, who has flown home to be at the birth of his first child. There is every chance that Te Puke born-and-bred Harris will be in the team to play the Springboks in Johannesburg next weekend, meaning the rookie rake will start his international rugby career against two of the toughest packs in world rugby.

North Harbour captain Bryn Hall, who captained Harris in the New Zealand under-20s at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship, described him as a true professional.

Hall says he first played against Harris for St Peter's College against Tauranga Boys' College First XV and has the utmost respect for him.

"He was always a chirpy, confident player, with great leadership skills both technically and tactically," Hall said. "The experience I had with him in the New Zealand under-20s, I can only say positive words about him, both on and off the field. He is a real professional off the field.

"Now he is going to play Argentina and South Africa in two test matches for the All Blacks."

Harris did not have a full Chiefs contract at the start of 2014 but through sheer hard work and determination he forced his way in.

"When you are training, the coach always says look out for the dude who is out the front so I guess that was something I could judge myself on and try and impress by that," Harris told the Bay of Plenty Times in May. "I tried to give it all and go as hard as I could. I think I was in the best shape of my life."

Harris grew up playing for the family's club, Te Puke Sports, but loved lifesaving almost as much as rugby. He competed for the Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club, with beach sprints a specialty, helping his explosive sprinting power.

His rugby career took off at Tauranga Boys' College. Harris had two years in the First XV and swapped between blindside flanker and hooker.

With NZ Secondary Schools reps Sam Cane and Carl Axtens arriving from Reporoa College, it meant a shift to hooker for Harris.

When he is singing the national anthem with his All Blacks teammates on Sunday, that shift will prove to be the best move he has made.