'it's Movie Stuff' - Dutch-born Holland To Make All Blacks Debut

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson has described Fabian Holland's emergence arsenic "movie benignant of stuff" arsenic nan Dutch-born fastener prepares to make his All Blacks debut against France connected Saturday.

The 22-year-old is 1 of 4 uncapped players successful nan starting XV to look Les Bleus successful nan first Test astatine Dunedin.

Holland watched nan All Blacks sevens squad train successful his hometown of Castricum successful nan Netherlands successful 2014 aged 11 and moved to New Zealand 5 years later to prosecute his dream of playing master rugby.

"He's beautiful excited. From Zeeland to New Zealand," Robertson said connected Thursday.

"He's travel a agelong way. It's a awesome story. Pretty single-minded from a 14-year-old to make that telephone to travel complete and correspond different state successful a crippled he loves - and he saw nan All Blacks arsenic nan ultimate.

"It's movie benignant of stuff, isn't it?"

Holland met All Blacks sevens skipper DJ Forbes and Akira Ioane erstwhile they trained astatine Castricum Rugby Club, wherever he had been playing since nan property of five.

"As soon arsenic I was connected nan field, I was a different small boy, to beryllium honest," Holland said successful an question and reply successful 2021, external.

"I developed much and much passion astir rugby and location are not a batch of countries for illustration New Zealand erstwhile it comes to passion astir rugby.

"I ever dreamed of coming but it ne'er felt existent for me. When I was 16 I sewage nan opportunity to travel to New Zealand and I've been surviving nan dream each day. I still person to pinch myself that it's real."

Holland initially arrived successful New Zealand for a six-month spell astatine Christchurch Boys' High School but his emergence has been rapid.

He started connected a developmental statement pinch nan Highlanders successful 2021 and signed a master woody pinch nan Super Rugby broadside nan pursuing year.

On Saturday he will statement up alongside his erstwhile Otago and Highlanders team-mate Christian Lio-Willie, who is besides group to make his All Blacks debut.

Robertson said it was fitting that Holland's first headdress would travel astatine Forsyth Barr Stadium, location of nan Highlanders.

"I'm judge Fabian's Highlanders supporters, and Christian's Otago fans, will beryllium retired successful afloat force," Robertson said.