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If Nathan Harris is feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders, the endorsement of his All Blacks captain should go some way to relieving that burden ahead of the biggest moment in his young rugby career.
The 22-year-old Bay of Plenty and Chiefs hooker flew out yesterday morning - a day behind schedule - with the All Blacks as they began their gruelling Rugby Championship road trip, with tests against Argentina in La Plata on Sunday morning and the Springboks at Ellis Park a week later.
Circumstances have put the spotlight on the uncapped Harris, who has emerged as the All Blacks' third-string hooker as much by default as on the back of any commanding form at the lower levels.
Coach Steve Hansen acknowledges it's his problem position as he plots a course to the World Cup in England next year, and there is widespread acceptance that behind increasingly impressive starter Dane Coles and veteran backup Keven Mealamu there is daylight before Harris emerges as next cab off the rank.
Coles and Mealamu are both available to face the Pumas, but the hard-nosed Wellingtonian won't make the second leg on to Johannesburg as he returns to New Zealand for the birth of his first child.
The paternity curveball strikes again.
That leaves Mealamu, 35, who hasn't started a test this year, and rookie Harris to cover responsibilities against the Boks in what's expected to be an Ellis Park cauldron.
Between the dodgy calf muscles of the 117-test Mealamu and the greenness of Harris it's a scenario that has Hansen on high alert.
He also has issues at second five-eighth on this trip, with Ma'a Nonu gone for the season with a broken arm and Cantabrian Ryan Crotty (cheekbone fracture) only joining the squad in Johannesburg.
Malakai Fekitoa will likely plug the gap in La Plata, with Mr Fixit Ben Smith providing cover. For all the depths being plunged, Hansen remains relaxed about his options, short and long term, at No 12.
''Ma'a comes back, Sonny [Bill Williams] comes back, Crotty is playing well - they're three very capable people,'' Hansen said after a surprise flight cancellation stopover in Auckland on Saturday.
''Malakai is getting better and better all the time, and I'm sure he's got the skillset to be a good 12. We're pretty happy there.''
But hooker?
''We're going to find out a bit, so it's quite exciting,'' Hansen said
Skipper Richie McCaw acknowledged holes would need to be plugged at second-five and hooker on tour, but offered a surprisingly emphatic endorsement of Harris in the process.
''The great thing about this All Blacks team is you see guys and perhaps wonder how they're going to go. They come in here and I think it's a symptom of the environment, but they seem to be able to slot in very well.
''Nathan Harris has been with us for most of this year and would have picked up a fair bit. You can see he's grown without having a chance to get on the field.
"He'll no doubt get his chance in South Africa and I'm sure he'll do a good job if he has to.''
While chief interest on this tour is on the Ellis Park showdown and whether the Springboks can break their Rugby Championship duck against the All Blacks, the New Zealanders are too smart to take their eye off the ball against a Pumas side they have never lost to.
''We're going to have to be on the job,'' added McCaw. ''We came off last week happy with the win but not totally happy with how we played.''
Hansen confirmed lock Sam Whitelock and loose forwards Liam Messm and Jerome Kaino would all be considered for La Plata.
His think-ons? Does he give Beauden Barrett another start? Who plays No 6? Is Fekitoa ready for his first test at 12?
And one more: Does he give Harris a peak at test footy ahead of Ellis Park.
That might just be tempting.
- Stuff
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