New Zealand assistant coach Steve Hansen believes youngster Isaia Toeava is a star in the making.
Former Wales boss Hansen expects Toeava, utilised by the All Blacks in the centres this season, to grow in stature after a mixed start to his international career.
The 20-year-old has yet to finish on the losing side for the Kiwis, but his performances have shown talent and potential interspersed with frequent handling errors.
He dropped two opportunities for tries in the win against South Africa at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, but Hansen, a former centre himself, told The Dominion Post: "One day he will be a superstar, I’ve got no doubt about that.
"The public and you people (the media) just have to be a little bit patient because we’re prepared to be.
"We know how good he is. We see it every day at training and we’ve seen it in flashes in the games he’s played.
"Just give the kid a bit of a chance and sit back and watch this space."
Toeava returned to the midfield in the 45-26 win in Pretoria after a long spell at full-back for the Hurricanes and in age-group rugby.
