Rugby: Vito needs more time

There was heightened anticipation about what Victor Vito might achieve in his rookie Super 14 season. Too much.

Given the 22-year-old hadn't managed to hold a starting spot for the duration of Wellington's provincial campaign last year, it was always going to be a major task for Vito to set the Super 14 alight.

Blocking his way to the Hurricanes No8 jersey is Rodney So'oialo. The blindside has been a scrap, too, with Karl Lowe taking his speed and ball-carrying to that role and Faifili Levave and Api Naikatini the preferred back-up so far.

That has left Vito on the edge of the Hurricanes squad and so far he has not been sighted. Instead of jumping on the plane to South Africa this week, he headed to Hong Kong with the New Zealand Sevens team.

There has been no blinding light, no gasping, no increased heart beat - nothing. Vito has not arrived in the blaze of glory many predicted. His release to the sevens team indicates he is a long way off selection in the 22.

Inevitably there will be questions asked as to why Vito hasn't stormed the competition. This was going to be his year and so far it's been anything but.

There is no mysterious case here. Vito was simply the victim of a hype his 15-a-side performances didn't merit.

He was a revelation at last year's Wellington Sevens, leading to silly comparisons with Jonah Lomu. That's the danger with sevens - there's acres of space.

Vito's athleticism and speed were plain for all to see and the dots were joined to conclude that thundering big bloke with a bit of gas equals world class player.

That potential remains. Vito's time of 4.91 seconds for the 40m sprint test is up there with the likes of Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko. He is quick enough to play wing and, at 109kg, could be deadly.

He's not a winger, though. He's a loose forward - a No 8 who can play blindside. And while he is an athlete with immense potential, it is going to take time to covert the raw materials into effective performances.

He only turned 22 on Friday. He made six appearances off the bench for Wellington in 2006 and missed 2007 due to injury. He played most games last year but was in and out of the side - blowing hot and cold.

This is a young man who has still to serve his apprenticeship - a point Vito himself is believed to have grasped.

His time will come. Maybe not this campaign but certainly later in the year the path will be clear for him to shine. So'oialo will be with the All Blacks and Thomas Waldrom will play for Hawke's Bay. The No 8 shirt will be vacant. Vito will take ownership of if he can get into it early and graft away.

Graft is the key to all this. Vito has everything he needs to make it. He's got the physique, the speed, the ball skills and maybe most importantly he has got the smarts. Vito is the perfect professional prototype - he's studying law, he's bright, articulate, dedicated and balanced.

His patience and ability to understand his future will be critical. Cooper is not going to rush Vito. This campaign is about absorption - it is for Vito to learn about preparation, training and rest requirements, discipline and intensity.

So'oialo is the perfect role model and not just because he's matured into a very good All Black No 8.

At 22, So'oialo was in a similar position to Vito. He'd played a few provincial campaigns, had a Super 12 campaign behind him as well as experience with the sevens team and was recognised as a supreme athlete with great potential.

Then 2003 came around and So'oialo was picked up by Lawrence Dallaglio in the first test of the year and tossed about like a rag doll. So'oialo had to rebuild his game, add muscularity to his mobility.

He had to go back to provincial rugby and learn how to play tight, how to knock big men back and scrap it out.

It took until 2005 for So'oialo to become an All Black regular and really until last year for his gifts to be fully recognised.

Vito is not going to be a superstar by the end of this Super 14. He's probably not going to be a superstar by the end of the year. But as long as he keeps his focus, keeps his perspective and takes his opportunities when they come, he will be a superstar at some stage.