KEY POINTS:
David Holwell has some sympathy with the All Blacks who are still on their conditioning programmes.
The 32-year-old has been on a diet of watching and training with the Blues throughout the Super 14. He made the bench, once, against the Brumbies, but was not called on as his teammates escaped with a final-minute Isa Nacewa sideline conversion for the victory.
The supporting role brief for Holwell was not unexpected.
He had made his provincial debut for Northland way back in 1995 against the now-extinct Vikings and been a hired gun for Wellington, the Hurricanes, Leinster and now the Blues. Holwell was going to quit last year before Blues coach David Nucifora came calling.
"It is hard to give it away especially if you are asked to go round for one more year," Holwell explained.
"I was ready to help out whenever I was needed."
Holwell downplays his input, the importance of his stewardship to Nacewa as the utility back has settled in the role of backline director for the Blues. He suggests most of the credit should go to Nacewa himself, Nucifora and the backline coach Joe Schmidt.
"Isa is very gifted and he is the future of the Blues and has taken every opportunity," Holwell said.
"I am just there in case of injury or to fill in when he needs a rest. I am just there to help out because this team needs to develop a number 10 for the future."
Those selfless comments summarised why Nucifora hired Holwell.
The experienced five eighths could have retreated to his preferred lifestyle as a beef farmer on his 1000 acre property near Tutukaka. His reputation as an extremely competent professional rugby player was secure, he was ready to settle in the winterless north with wife Diane and their two pre-schoolers.
But Nucifora had done his research and knew how to persuade Holwell to have one last year. He was the ideal mentor, a disciplined trainer, a strong player who still had enough desire to go into combat.
"I am the slowest back on the field so I have to be the fittest," Holwell suggested. "Training is all part of this, you never get anywhere without hard work. Being brought up on a farm, having to look after a lot of things, helps you with the mental side of this game."
After nine years with the Hurricanes, Holwell was careful not to swagger into the Blues.
"Over the years I have seen new players shoot their mouths off and I wanted to gain their respect before I started talking. That is me, that's the way I am.
"I don't do a hell of a lot, they need to take a lot of the credit. If I can help I will but Isa has it all, he does a a lot of hard work, he is improving and that comes with gametime. I am in the background."
Not tomorrow. Holwell's reward for his guidance and patience is a start at Eden Park against the Lions, breaking five rounds of inactivity.
"I know how some of the All Blacks must be feeling after not playing for so long," Holwell said.
"It has been hard sitting in the grandstand but that is all part of the deal."
Spending five months with his family in Auckland, getting paid to play the game he loves, is still an attractive project. But Holwell insists this is his final Super 14 season, time to let his parents do their own thing after they have managed his beef farm.
He will play for Northland this year and next but first he wants to continue the Blues' momentum.
