Highlanders coach Tony Brown has added another layer to the remarkable story behind 19-year-old lock Fabian Holland, who is poised to make his debut off the bench against the Blues on Saturday.
Holland grew up in a “little village” near Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and only moved to New Zealand three years ago, where he immediately started amazing people with his rugby potential.
Now, it turns out, the rugby-obsessed youngster actually taught himself English by watching games from Aotearoa, with help from a certain broadcaster.
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“He told us that he learned English watching rugby and listening to Justin Marshall commentate, so it’s a bit of a concern really,” Brown joked on Thursday.
“No, his love for the game, his love for the Highlanders and for New Zealand rugby is huge.
“He’s so passionate about the game and so knowledgable. He grew up being a first five-eighth in Holland, so being a 203-204cm lock with first five-eighth skills is pretty unique.
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“I’m looking forward to seeing him out there. I know he’s going to be a good rugby player, we’ve just got to give him some time.”
Time is very much on Holland’s side. He doesn’t turn 20 until October, but already possesses a frame that is built for the upper echelons of the game.
Even more importantly, the coaches at the Highlanders love his willingness to learn and improve.
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“He’s an impressive man,” Brown said. “He’s come over to New Zealand from Holland for a reason, and that’s to play professional rugby, and he gets his opportunity this weekend to debut for the Highlanders.
“It’s a team he grew up watching, and he’s super stoked to be a part of. He’s added to our team environment and I think as a rugby player, he’s always going to be successful and this weekend is a start for him.”
Holland has already represented the New Zealand under-20s and impressed for Otago last year, when he was largely used off the bench.
He wasn’t included in the original Highlanders squad for Super Rugby Pacific, but was called in when flanker Christian Lio-Willie broke his hand before the season started.
His unique background and youthful exuberance could help spark the Highlanders’ campaign, as well as the news that crowds – and the noisy Zoo section – will be allowed back into Forsyth Barr Stadium this weekend.
However, the Highlanders’ older heads will need to be on their game against Beauden Barrett’s Blues, and captain Aaron Smith admitted that he and No.10 Mitch Hunt had not yet hit their straps this season.
“I think the honest truth around it is that we’re probably not performing to the levels we hold our own standards to,” Smith said.
“So, we can’t really put the blame on other players. A lot of it is around our own execution and role.
“We’ve had a good look at ourselves. We’ve got good connections, we get on really well.
“So, we’ve had some good honest convos with the coaches, with ourselves around how we can be better for our team.
“We’ve just got to perform and do what the team needs. We might have been getting stuck in the area of trying to make sure everyone knows what they are doing.
“We’re probably both out there this weekend freer of a lot of things. For me, it’s about playing my game, at speed, and giving ‘Hunty’ the best ball.”
Brown also said that winger Freedom Vahaakolo – a favourite among Otago supporters – had been brought into the squad this week as injury cover.
“He’s been helping us out,” Brown said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries in the outside backs.
“We’re really struggling to keep players on the field for more than two games in a row. So hopefully we get a bit of luck on the injury side this weekend and going forward, so we can consistently pick the same players.”
Highlanders: Sam Gilbert, Ngatungane Punivai, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory, Mosese Dawai, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (c), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown
Reserves: Andrew Makalio, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck, Fabian Holland, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Vilimoni Koroi, Hugh Renton
This article was originally published on stuff.co.nz and is reproduced with permission