Chiefs coach Colin Cooper admits frustration over use of All Blacks in the opening rounds of super rugby
For most Kiwi rugby players striving for higher honours, there is a clear pathway. You go from secondary school rugby, to local club or provincial sides, to Super Rugby and then hope to be selected to represent your country.
Bay of Plenty's Tevita Mafileo is an outlier.
Mafileo is part of the Bay of Plenty Steamers set-up, but is yet to play a game in the Mitre 10 Cup. However, in a move that bucks the trend, the 21-year-old prop has skipped that step and made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs.
Late in the lead-up to the Chiefs' round one 30-27 loss to the Highlanders in Hamilton, starting prop Atu Moli was ruled out with an elbow injury. Aidan Ross joined the starting squad which made way for Mafileo to join the bench, from which he made his debut late in the game.
It all happened very fast for the young man, but he took it in his stride, retaining his spot on the bench against the Brumbies in round two at the weekend.
"It was unreal, a dream come true, but surprising because I got called up quite late. I always wanted to play for the Chiefs and I loved it," he said.
A former St Kentigern College student, Mafileo moved to Tauranga at the end of high school to join the Bay of Plenty Academy. During the last few years he has impressed for Tauranga Sports and the Bay of Plenty Under-19s, he was also an integral member of the New Zealand Under-20 team during the World Championships in France last year.
He said Super Rugby was a step up from anything else he had played.
"It's really fast and strong, the pace of the game is the biggest difference. I felt like I did my job, I didn't want to do too much, just do my role, go out there and do the best I can."
Tevita Mafileo makes a run for New Zealand during a World Rugby Under-20 Championship match against Japan. Photo / Getty Images
He was called on to train with the Chiefs in December and January and said it had a massive effect on his development.
"I've learned heaps from people like Nepo [Laulala] and Atu [Moli], just the experienced players in the same position, it's been unreal just learning from them and taking on as much as I can. I honestly just try to learn as much as I can and keep growing."
Mafileo said his goals for the rest of the year were to play as much rugby as possible and continue learning.
"If I get the chance to play again, I'll do everything I can to show the coaches I want to be here and I'm willing to work hard.
"Being part of the Steamers squad last year and training with them was a good opportunity to see what the Mitre 10 Cup environment was like."
Being part of the New Zealand Under-20 team last year helped him understand his position more and was a good stepping stone to higher honours.
"It was a really good experience and it was unreal going to France and representing my country. That was one of my goals, it was a dream come true. I wanted to represent my family and had a few tears in my eyes thinking of the memories and hard work through the years.
"Honestly, just making the under-20s made me want to keep going and keep making my family proud. I want to get to what everyone's aiming for, that's the All Blacks, but that takes time and small steps," he said.
