Stephen Donald has praised the impact Highlanders flyer Caleb Tangitau has made in Super Rugby Pacific and believes he could earn an All Blacks call-up.
Tangitau has shone for the Highlanders so far this season and has hit the ground running in Super Rugby as he crossed for a try in his side’s 25-23 triumph over the defending champions in Christchurch before repeating that feat in a 26-23 loss against the Chiefs in Dunedin at the weekend.
In fine form for the Highlanders
The 22-year-old has been in fine form under the guidance of Jamie Joseph at the Highlanders, since joining them last season, and has already scored eight tries for the Dunedin-based franchise in nine appearances.
Tangitau is a big unit, who weighs 98 kilograms and is 1,88 metres tall, and joined the Highlanders from the Blues, where he was behind the likes of All Blacks wingers Caleb Clarke and Mark Telea in the pecking order.
A former New Zealand U20s and sevens representative, he has made full use of his opportunity since joining the Highlanders, and he left his stamp on the match against the Chiefs on Saturday when he made a superb 40-metre line break before crossing for his try in the game’s closing stages.
With Scott Robertson sacked as the All Blacks’ head coach, and although Joseph has emerged as one of the favourites to replace him – along with Kobelco Kobe Steelers boss Dave Rennie – Donald feels Tangitau could earn a Test call-up regardless of who takes over the reins at New Zealand’s national team.
“I think certainly if he was on the radar of whoever our next All Black coach is gonna be, I think he’s properly in consideration now,” he told The Aftermatch with Kirst & Beav.
Donald revealed that he enjoyed how the Highlanders speedster let his stamp on the match against the Chiefs with his try when his side were chasing the game during its latter stages in Dunedin.
“There was something about that try from Tangitau, when he just said: ‘Right, we need something’. There was five minutes to go, two converted tries to win them the game, he just went bang!
“And he’s clearly as fast as anyone in this country.”
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And Donald highlighted how Tangitau makes full use of his bulk and drew a comparison between him and All Blacks and Crusaders full-back Will Jordan, who is of a similar size.
‘Not too dissimilar’ to Will Jordan
“What’s probably underestimated if you have never seen him live, is how big he is and I mentioned yesterday, when you see Will Jordan live, he’s a big unit through the hips and the legs and Tangitau is not too dissimilar,” said the former All Blacks fly-half.
“All that means is, when he’s going that fast, you’ve got to really get a decent shoulder on, or else they’re going to break any arm tackles and Tangitau did that on a couple of occasions, so it is exciting.”
Donald believes playing for the Highlanders in Dunedin is suiting Tangitau’s style of play.
“He’s playing at the best arena in the world to be an outside back who plays on top of the ground, that Forsyth Bath Stadium,” he explained.
“You know what you’re gonna get, it’s gonna be a hard deck, and it’s tailor-made for a couple of those backs and the ‘Landers, it has to be said.”