The 22-year-old Chiefs loose forward has been nominated as men's breakthrough player of the year. Photo: Chloe Knott/ActionPress
Wallace Sititi has been outstanding for the All Blacks this year and his performances have been recognised by World Rugby, with the loose forward nominated as men's breakthrough player of the year.
Sititi was up for the gong alongside South Africa's Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, England's Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Ireland's Jamie Osborne.
Sititi says his first year of test rugby has been a whirlwind and is still sinking in. Photo: Chloe Knott/ActionPress
The 22-year-old Chiefs loose forward said it was exciting to be nominated.
"Just extremely grateful. It's been a big year, so to have the acknowledgement, it's crazy," Sititi said.
"To be on the same list as some of those guys in there, Sasha, Manuel, and Jamie, they are all quality players, and for me to be on that same list is an honour and a privilege in itself."
Sititi, in his first year of test rugby, said it was been a whirlwind and was still sinking in.
"I would have been happy with one game with the Chiefs. So to be here is definitely not what I was expecting.
"I think my family and I have just taken it for what it is and we keep our feet grounded and we keep moving forward."
So what was the ceiling for Sititi? He was confident he still had plenty of room for growth.
"Still a lot of room for improvement like there always is and we can see from the weekend that sometimes our best isn't good enough, so we've just gotta keep moving forward and with the coaches here who have been amazing and see where we see where we end up."
All Blacks prop Tamaiti Williams said Sititi deserved his nomination.
"Obviously he's come on the scene and he's doing the things he's doing now pretty fast," Williams said.
"I'm actually his buddy, so we have to look after each other in camp. We got to know each other pretty fast and one thing I noticed is that he backs himself and his family backs him as well. His confidence has grown through the camp. We always tell each other just keep backing yourself and and good things will happen."
No All Blacks or Black Ferns were shortlisted for the global governing body's Player of the Year Award.
Sititi said that was just a reflection of how close the top teams now were in international rugby.
"Oh, look, I back anyone who can be up there and you've got some quality players around the world and whether we've got New Zealand players up there or whether it's other nations, we'll back each other and I'm sure the boys will say the same thing."
The All Blacks were in Turin recovering from last Sunday's one-point loss to France and preparing for this weekend's clash with Italy, their final test of the year.
No All Blacks or Black Ferns are shortlisted for the award. Photo: Blake Armstrong/ActionPress
The All Blacks were expected to win and win comfortable, but Williams is adamant there's no complacency heading into the match.
"The All Black jersey demands your best and everyone here wants to be at their best. It has been a long year, but we have one more opportunity to wear the black jersey and represent our our country," Williams said.
"I wake up every morning and I can't wait to go to work. So I think when you have that mindset, you're in a good spot.
"Summer's not here yet. We've still got one more week against a very passionate Italian side who you don't take lightly at all. So you give people the respect they deserve and the best way you can give that is perform at your best."
Sunday morning's match against Italy would be the last test for both former captain Sam Cane and veteran halfback TJ Perenara, who were leaving New Zealand rugby at the end of the season.
It will be Sam Cane and TJ Perenara's last game on Sunday. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
The coaches were confident Cane would have recovered from a head wound to take to the field and Williams said the rest of the squad were determined to send the two stalwarts off as winners.
"I'll be pretty emotional when they leave. What TJ's done for for Māori in New Zealand and the way he helps others is inspiring to me," Williams said.
"Sammy Cane is the same. He was our captain last year and I can only think of one way to send them out and that's with a dominant performance. I'm sure they'll probably hold their emotions to the end of the week. They're walking around smiling today. I think they're just soaking it in. Hopefully, we can do a job for them."