#1. Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato)
Finally, for the most talented player, Gatland chose former All Black Sitivebi Sivivatu, who he worked with when he was head coach of Waikato.
“Probably the best player I’ve ever coached, [who] played for the All Blacks, Waikato and Clermont, was Sitiveni Sivivatu,” Gatland said.
“He tried to portray himself as this easy go, dumb-looking Fijian – but he wasn’t like that. He was a very, very intelligent rugby player. I saw him have the ability to make up moves during a game from the wing.
“I remember a game where Waikato played Northland and he pulled his hamstring, it was our scrum and we were in the 22 and the physio went on and said ‘Siti you gotta come off you’ve pulled your hamstring’, and he said ‘no, no just let me score the try first and then I’ll come off’.
“So we had a scrum and went ten and there was sort of a ten/wing cut and he hobbled across the line and put the ball down and walked off the field!
“But he was probably the most talented rugby player I’ve ever coached. And I’ve been lucky enough to coach a lot of quality players in my time.”
Sivivatu was only 25 by the time Gatland left Waikato, which goes to show just how talented the former All Blacks winger was at a young age.
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