Rotorua schoolboy Isaac Te Aute has admitted he has tried to stay away from the media this week after a sudden rise to fame, as he focuses on representing the All Blacks Sevens team.
It has been a huge week for Te Aute, 19, who captained the Rotorua Boys' Highschool 1st XV team to a national title last weekend, before joining up with the All Blacks Sevens, ahead of their series against Australia in Rotorua this weekend.
Te Aute received plenty of media attention following his man of the match performance last weekend, in the 1st XV national final, where he scored two tries, including a sensational long-range effort. However, Te Aute said he had been trying to keep away from reading or watching too much of that coverage.
"I've been trying to stay away from the media as much as I can and just focus on the All Blacks Sevens, because I do have a lot to work on coming into the All Blacks Sevens camp," he said. "So, yeah, staying away from the media has been really good, as I have just focused on what I need to do."
Te Aute will play at halfback or standoff this weekend in the six-game, unofficial series against Australia and can't wait to get a run at the Rotorua International Stadium.
"It has been a big goal for me to run out in the black jersey and I can't wait." He said his family would be down watching this weekend and it would be a proud moment.
He said his teammates at Boys' High had been right behind him all week. "They have been really supportive sending through texts saying how's it going, how's it going, and they're happy for me."
All Blacks Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens said Te Aute was an impressive talent and would certainly be getting a run this weekend against Aussie.
"Isaac Te Aute is one of those players that has just left school, well he's still at school, and he's made it into the squad and playing for a contract.
"He's very talented and he's been to a couple of our camps now, so he knows what to expect and he is learning all the time."
