All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett knew from the first time he met Asafo Aumua there was something special there.
The All Black first five told media today he met Aumua in the Hurricanes' changing sheds when the young front-rower decided to sit down in between Barrett and other key Hurricanes player TJ Perenara.
"It was great," Barrett said.
He was so quiet, I was wondering who he was and where he came from."
Barrett even admitted Aumua made an instant impact at trainings that senior players took notice of.
"We were told that he'd been held back, he wasn't allowed to play so we were like, 'geez, sign him up quick, he's pretty good'."
Barrett said if Aumua is given a chance to wear the black jersey in one of the tour matches, he couldn't wait to see what Aumua could do.
"He's just a kid too so can't put mountains of pressure on him," he said.
"It'll just be good to see him learn from Dane Coles, Nathan Harris and Codie Taylor this week."
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