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The chemistry was unmistakable as former All Black Frank Bunce practised a few moves with Dancing with the Stars partner Krystal Stuart.
And although he is more renowned for his crunching tackles, Bunce, 45, proved he could be light-footed on the dance floor.
Unlike his hapless predecessor Rodney Hide, Bunce seemed in little danger of letting Stuart, 22, slip through his fingers.
Stuart said she had put last year's debacle, where the Act Party leader dropped her in the cha cha, behind her. "Frank's certainly got the muscles for the task," she said. "He is very strong."
Bunce said rehearsals had "taken over his life".
The show certainly took over television on Tuesday night, when more than half the viewers tuned into the two-hour-long first show. It snatched 53.5 per cent of the total audience share, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Among 25- to 54-year-olds it outstripped House on TV3 and TV2's Boston Legal, which managed 28 per cent and 22 per cent shares, compared with the dancing show's 47 per cent.
Afterwards, Paul Holmes and Michael Laws used their radio shows to talk about their performances.
But Corey Cooper, the show's publicist, said there was careful scrutiny to ensure everyone got equal publicity. "Whatever campaigning they decide to do individually, they are encouraged to do, but my job is to ensure everyone is spread very evenly."
