All Blacks coach Ian Foster couldn't hide his delight at the work of his quartet of new players, coming in the 102-0 victory over Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium.
In the first test of 2021, Foster welcomed four new players into the All Blacks' ranks, as Quinn Tupaea, Finlay Christie, Ethan Blackadder, and George Bower all made their test debuts in the convincing victory.
Tupaea was the only debutant to start, credited with one try assist, while Christie (one assist), Blackadder, and Bower (five tackles each) all came off the bench.
Speaking post-match, coach Foster was glowing in his assessment of how the first batch of the All Blacks' class of 2021 fared in their first test appearances.
"I thought that the four guys who played their first test will be pretty proud of what they did," he says.
"[Tupaea] got smacked early, I think he realised after 10 minutes that maybe it might be better to go after a weak shoulder [rather] than t-bone. But he stayed in the game.
"Finlay was really energetic off the bench. I thought Ethan came on and just bought a massive work rate, and chucked himself at everything.
"George Bower, again, looked really enthusiastic.
"All four of them will be sitting in that shed pretty proud of what happened."
For Blackadder, his first test appearance sees him become the latest player - alongside dad Todd - to join the ranks of All Blacks father-son duos.
The Blackadders are the 21st set of father-son All Blacks, and first since Eroni and Caleb Clarke in 2020.
For Ethan, donning the All Blacks' jersey gave him the chance to do something he'd gotten used to seeing on a screen.
"It's been a pretty cool week and a half," he says.
"After getting selected, going through the All Blacks environment, and seeing how they roll, it's been unbelievable.
"I actually wasn't too nervous, I was more excited. I didn't want to be nervous.
"[I] did the haka and stuff like that, you just pinch yourself, seeing it that many times on telly, and then running out there - it's one for the memory bank."
And while there was no pre-game advice from dad Todd, Ethan expects there to be a Blackadder reunion following the win over Tonga.
"I didn't have a word before, but I'll catch him at the aftermatch and have a yarn."
