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Crusaders five eighth Tyler Bleyendaal makes a break. - Source: Photosport -
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When it comes to Super Rugby introductions, they don't get much tougher than 105 kilograms of Blues enforcer Jerome Kaino hurtling into you like a freight train.
That's exactly what Crusaders rookie five-eighth Tyler Bleyendaal had to deal with as he played a starring role in his side's tense opening night win.
The 21-year-old delivered an assured performance in his first Super Rugby start, leading the Crusaders around the field confidently as well as kicking 14 points in the 19-18 win.
However he did well to even last the full game after surviving a Kaino hit at full speed early in the second half.
Bleyendaal had gone back to clean up a kick and shortly after shovelling the ball off to a team-mate the All Blacks hitman was all over him.
The hit brought back memories of of fellow young-gun playmaker Aaron Cruden, who was chopped in half by Benson Stanley with his first touch of the ball in Super Rugby two years ago.
The Christchurch Boys High old boy admitted he didn't know too much about the tackle when it happened.
"I didn't see him coming and I didn't know it was him when it happened so the head was a bit fuzzy there for a second," Bleyendaal told reporters after the match.
"I caught a glimpse of it on the big screen and I'll probably see it on the Crowd Goes Wild or something like that," the youngster joked.
Despite suffering at the hands of one of the most devastating hitters in the game, Bleyendaal wasn't shying away from the intensity of the occasion, relishing the opportunity to get on the paddock after spending 2011 waiting for a chance to impress.
He took that chance last night in a game where even a slight slip had the potential to cost them the game.
"This time last year I got to sit on the bench and watch the whole game and I played 80 minutes (last night) and it was everything I was expecting.
"They're just a bloody good team that Blues side and they're really intense and both sides were just putting immense pressure on each other, it really was a game of inches."
The only real blemish on the report card of the promising pivot was two shots at goal from 40 metres out that fell well short of the target. Bleyendaal said he was disappointed with the efforts.
"I'd back myself to nail them 10 out of 10 normally, I am still recovering from a bit of a quad injury and the power is not quite there yet and I didn't hit them very well either.
"I'll just need to do a few more reps and focus on getting that power back."
Bleyendaal looks certain to get the chance to rectify that aspect of his game with Dan Carter out until sometime next month, the youngster is odds on to reprise his role against the Highlanders next week.
