Rapid rise for powerful Newland

Getty Images ©

Six months ago Clint Newland missed the phone call informing him of his elevation to Super Rugby while working in a bush-clearing gang in rural Hawke's Bay.

On Saturday night he will end his debut Rebel Sport Super 14 season lining up against further test opposition, with calls for the rapid riser to be considered for higher honours himself.

Newland has been a key figure in the Highlanders' intimidating and impressive front-row, although it has been weakened for Saturday's showdown against the Crusaders by the injury-enforced absence of Jamie Mackintosh.

And the exposure Newland is gaining seems a world away from his days as a bushman, and last August when his hopes of entering the fully professional ranks were questioned following a 10-week suspension.

But Newland, 28, said the lows he has previously experienced meant he was taking nothing for granted.

"It makes me appreciate the whole thing now," he told Yahoo!Xtra.

"It made me take a look at myself and pull my head in.

"It has been hard-case right throughout the whole season, thinking back to where I was last year and to where I am now.

"It was like that especially when we were over in South Africa. It is a big contrast."

Newland was picked up in the draft by Highlanders coach Glenn Moore after being over-looked for the Hurricanes.

He confirmed on Tuesday that he did not want to play for the Hurricanes in 2009, instead he is keen to return down south for a second Super 14 season.

Six months after missing the phone call to tell him of his Highlanders selection, he is now being talked about as a potential selection in the season-ending All Blacks team.

He is also likely to feature in the New Zealand Maori side for the upcoming IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

"It would be outstanding achievement to make the Maori team," Newland said.

"We will just see what happens there. I am just in my first year of playing Super 14 and are just concentrating on small steps at the moment."

Newland has previously played for the New Zealand Maori Under-21 side.

While some have been surprised by what the Hawke's Bay prop has shown in the Super 14 to date, Moore certainly hasn't been.

He said he always had the belief in his 130kg front-rower.

"I have known Clint for a long time, coached him before in the New Zealand Divisional side, and I think for his first year as a tight-head prop and doing it at this level, he has had a very good season," Moore said.

"He is a big man and has a lot of strength. He has worked had on his fitness level, his speed and all of those sorts of things.

"I think he has been a big mover this year."

Moore also sounded a caution of him being pushed too far, too soon.

While impressed with the prop's work this season, he said he would benefit from another season of Super Rugby.

"At the end of the day, this is his first year at the highest-level as a tight-head prop," Moore said.

"Whilst he has developed and he has come on leaps and bounds, standing up against a lot of the big-names in world rugby, I think the real progress for him will come next year.

"There will be a real significant move for him next year. And I think he has to be a little bit patient about that.

"But I have got no doubts that in the future he has the ability to go further. He is an enormously focused lad and helluva committed to being a professional rugby player.

"I am sure he has the ability to go a lot further."