A NEW Zealand schoolboy is being compared to the great
Christian Cullen after his scintillating try on Sunday put him on the
path to the Rio Olympics.
Rotorua Boys’ High School captain Issac Te Aute was the star of Sunday’s national secondary schools final against Wellington’s Scots College, showcasing blinding speed, balance and sharp changes of direction.
One breakout try in particular caught the eye during the televised game and the 18-year-old Te Aute has been whistled into New Zealand’s national sevens squad.
New Zealand sevens coach Gordon Tietjens has picked schoolboy Issac Te Aute. Source: Supplied
Kiwi sevens coach Gordon Tietjens is a renowned talent spotter who helped launch the careers of All Blacks Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Victor Vito and Liam Messam through the abbreviated version of the game.
Rotorua won Sunday’s final 36-27 and Te Aute — a fullback in XV’s — is now set to feature in six sevens trial games against Australia this weekend.
Tietjens already has the luxury of choosing All Blacks stars Messam and Sonny Bill Williams — as well as Hurricanes prodigy Ardie Savea — as sevens makes its Olympic debut next year.
Rotorua Boys’ High School captain Issac Te Aute scoring a wonder try. Source: FoxSports
“We’ve had 17 and 18-year-olds in the team in the past and Isaac being 18 as well it’s a great opportunity for him,” Tietjens told One News.
“I’m sure this weekend you’ll see some real skill-sets that he has, cause he is certainly a player that’s going to be good at the game of sevens.”
Te Aute was naturally thrilled with the opportunity.
“It’s really, really humbling,” Te Aute said.
“It’s just a really good feeling... it’s always been a dream for me and I’ve had the chance to make a dream become a reality.
“I’m really enjoying it at the moment.”
