Nafi Tuitavake in action for Northampton. Photosport
Nafi Tuitavake may have just four Ikale Tahi test caps under his belt, but he brings a decade of professional rugby experience to Tonga as they embark on a critical three-week campaign which they hope will culminate in Rugby World Cup qualification.
The 28-year-old has plenty of competition to crack the outside backs for Tonga's test against Wales at Eden Park on Friday night, with the likes of Worcester's Cooper Vuna, and Gloucester's David Halaifonua in the mix, along with former Auckland wing Afa Pakalani and young Grammar TEC flyer Kitione Taimani, who has been in sharp club form in Auckland throughout 2016-17. But expect Tuitavake to feature somewhere in the squad being announced today.
Born and bred in west Auckland, Tuitavake played the last of his 71 games for North Harbour in 2015. He racked up 20 Super Rugby games too, mostly for the Crusaders, but his best rugby came at provincial level. He was not regretful about missing out on North Harbour's charge to the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup Championship title, as he was already abroad.
"Man, I was just so proud to see them win. Hopefully they can continue it in the Premiership and the new boys buy into it," he says.
Even in 2015, under coach Steve Jackson, he could feel something building within the team, and that all came to fruition last season. But Tuitavake had already flown the coop, playing for Narbonne in the French PROD2 league, before signing with Northampton Saints for the 2016-17 season, a contract since extended. It has worked out well.
The Saints, who have Kiwis in the ranks such as James Wilson, Ahsee Tuala, the Pisi brothers (George and Ken), who played school and club rugby with Tuitavake at Massey, didn't crack the Aviva Premiership semifinals, but did qualify for next season's Champions Cup, always a key goal for northern clubs.
"It's been a different move from French rugby to the UK, which I prefer a lot a more. It's as close as you can get to Super Rugby level. It's not as fast, but quite physical. The guys love being in the gym all day," Tuitavake says.
His brother, former All Blacks threequarter Anthony, is now 34, but will have one more season at Parisian club Racing-Metro, the home of Dan Carter, and indeed Ben Tameifuna, who will likely make his test debut for Tonga on Friday.
The younger Tuitavake arrived into camp in Auckland on Sunday, still a touch fatigued after a long season. But he says he will be up for Friday night.
"There's plenty of rugby being played in the UK. You just have to manage the load and get it right for the game. The fitness trainers want to see good times."
Inadequate conditioning levels coming into the June 2016 Pacific Nations Cup was an area identified for improvement by Ikale Tahi coach Toutai Kefu. They will have more time to work on that next week as they have a full fortnight before they face Manu Samoa in Nuku'alofa in a critical PNC match which doubles as a Rugby World Cup qualifier.
Tuitavake likes the vibe within this group and it looks very strong on paper as they eye up a second-string Wales.
"They've given the newbies the licence to express themselves. Just because they are new to the team, they don't just have to be reserved and listen to the seniors. We've got a lot of young boys coming through from the UK, ready and fresh to do the country proud."
He himself is a senior, despite his lack of test caps. He speaks Tongan and will add his piece if he feels it is required.
He sees a royal chance for a rare victory over a tier one nation.
"We look at it as an awesome chance with them losing a lot of players to the Lions. We haven't played them in a very long time. They know nothing about us and we know nothing about them."
It is a chance to reprise Tonga's last outing on Eden Park, where they pushed the All Blacks to 41-10 to open Rugby World Cup in competitive style.
Tuitavake only decided to throw his lot in with Tonga in late 2015. He had played 12 sevens tournaments for New Zealand from 2008-10, so opted for the route taken by Tim Nanai-Williams, who switched countries to Samoa via the sevens circuit to qualify for 15s.
"I was stuck in the New Zealand system, and then the Olympic window came around, so that was my only chance to switch countries. I played the Olympic qualifying and was then able to play for Tonga in last year's PNC. That was another reason the UK opened up for me."
Wales need to ensure no gaps open up on the flanks on Friday night, or Tuitavake will make them pay on his homecoming.