Scoring a try on your All Blacks debut is the stuff dreams are made of, but for David Havili the moment was simply incomprehensible as a youngster.
The 22-year-old admitted there were certainly pre-match jitters, but an early touch eventually led to the fullback dotting down with the final play of the game.
"It was an awesome moment to get a try on debut and something I'd never dream of when I was little too, so it was unreal," Havili said.
"It was amazing. I was a bit nervous when I was on the bench, but I got my first touch and I was away.
"It just gives you a bit of confidence. You just want that first touch to go well for you and I'm lucky I had an early touch from Damian - gave me a good ball so it's good to get that."
In a brief, but impactful cameo, Havili revealed the coaching staff just wanted him to play with confidence and take in the momentous occasion.
"It was just pretty much back myself, go out and just enjoy the moment, and enjoy the time that I had out there."
Whatever emotions Havili may have felt after scoring the try, his teammates no doubt enjoyed the moment every bit as much, including a particularly tight embrace from Captain Kieran Reid.
Such was their joy, it meant the Tasman representative could not complement the try with the trademark "fins up" celebration and is wary of the backlash back home.
"No, well I was trying to! But I couldn't get it up in time because everyone was bear hugging me," Havili said.
"I might get a bit of stick from the Tassy boys but I'll have to wait till I get home to find out."
Newshub.
