Christian Poidevin will be continuing a famous family legacy when he runs out for Randwick against the Pumas on Saturday afternoon.
Poidevin’s father, former Wallaby Simon, played for Randwick when they faced the All Blacks on an historic day in 1988, grinding out a 27-9 defeat in a much closer match than any anticipated.
The elder Poidevin played alongside the Ellas, Lloyd McDermott and England and Wallabies coaches Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika that day.
Christian was born more than decade after that day in 1988, as many of his current teammates were, but he has watched the footage more than a handful of times, getting a sense of the atmosphere of that day.
While plenty about rugby has changed since that afternoon, Poidevin says the heart of Randwick hasn’t.
“We just had our awards night, so had a few people talking about the experiences then, I've watched the film a couple of times,” he said.
“I think it's a very different team but there’s the same Randwick spirit, everyone playing for their mate, everyone's going to give everything they've got and when that's happening, I don't think it really matters what calibre player they are.
“If they've got heart, they're going to give it all they've got, especially against a team like Argentina.”
For Christian, Randwick and Coogee Oval have been a part of his life since as long as he can remember.
“It's very special - Dad's still a big part of the club and I didn't really get a choice but to come here but I'd give my heart and soul for this club so to share this moment with them is just amazing,” he said.
“I was always down there from a young age, I think it was always an atmosphere whether you're a family person, then when you grew up, going to watch the Wicks, the atmosphere's amazing.
“It's the perfect oval, you run on there and you feel a million bucks.”
Poidevin said he had turned to his dad for some advice going into the clash and it seems as much as things change, they have truly stayed the same.
“I think he realises the nerves going into it - he had the exact same feeling going in even though they had a few more Wallabies but he looked at it and he said, 'We thought we were going to get smashed," but when everyone rises and I think when you've got that atmosphere at Coogee Oval, people are going to rise and we're going to surprise some people with what's going to happen, yeah.”
That Randwick-All Blacks game is still talked about in rugby circles often and Poidevin hopes that Saturday’s clash goes down is remembered in the annals of history too.
“I'm going to wait for the outcome first but I think even just the fact that it happens, it definitely will,” he said.
Randwick take on Argentina on Saturday September 7 at Coogee Oval, kicking off at 2:30pm AEST.
TEAMS
Randwick to face the Pumas
1. Solomona Sakalia (Bay of Plenty -7 seasons Mitre 10 Cup. New 2020 Recruit)
2. David Vea (NRC Country Eagles 2019)
3. Enrique Pieretto (Argentina RWC19- tight head prop on loan)
4. Tom Nowlan (NRC Country Eagles 2019)
5. Nathan Den-Houdt (NRC Country Eagles 2019 / Brisbane City NRC 2018)
6. Ned Hanigan (NRC Country Eagles 2019 / Waratahs / Wallabies)
7. Christian Poidevin (NRC Sydney 2018 & 19)
8. Kyle Harris (Randwick 1st Grade 2019 / NZ U/20)
9. Mitch Short (NRC Sydney 2019 / NRC 2018 / Australian U/20)
10. Ben Donaldson (NRC Sydney 2019 / Australian U/20 in 2019)
11. Josh Gordon (Randwick 1st Grade 2019 / NZ Sevens)
12. Nick Wilkinson (Australian Schools Captain / Australian U/20 in 2017)
13. Triston Reilly (NRC Country Eagles 2019 / Australian U/20 in 2019)
14. James Ramm (NRC Sydney 2019 / Australian U/20 in 2018)
15. Will Harrison (NRC Sydney 2019 / Australian U/20 in 2018&19/Aust Schoolboys Captain 2017)
Reserves:
16. Adam Freier (Wallaby Legend / Brumbies / Waratahs)
17. Dan Mathew (Loose Head / Tight Head - Randwick 1st grade 2018/2019)
18. Santiago Socino (Argentina RWC19 - hooker)
19. Tom Pirrodi (Randwick 1st Grade 2018/19)
20. Jack Johnson (Randwick 1st Grade 2017- 2019
21. Jeral Skelton (Australian Sevens 2018 /19)
22. Tyzac Jordan (Randwick 1st Grade 2018 /19)
23. Christian Yassmin (Randwick 1st Grade 2018 /19 / Japan Super League 2019)
24. Tom Molloy (Randwick 1st Grade 2018/19)
25. Andrew Walker (Former Randwick legend and Wallaby)
26. Jale Seninawanawa (NSW 7s and new 2020 Randwick recruit)
27. Cam Betham (Randwick 2018/19)
28. Connor Size (Randwick 2018/19)
