Welsh international Rhys Patchell surprised many when he announced that he would be departing Welsh Rugby to join the New Zealand Super Rugby franchise, the Highlanders.
Following the retirement of several experienced Welsh internationals over the past year, the 30-year-old Patchell would seemingly have been a viable option for Warren Gatland's Six Nations squad in 2024.
Thus, his move to New Zealand initially appeared to be coming out at a peculiar time.
However, if the first two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific are anything to go by, the former Cardiff and Scarlets playmaker appears to have been invigorated by the move.
Putting in two exceptional performances, Patchell is playing with a freedom that displays his full skillset alongside some exciting up-and-coming Kiwi talent.
In round one, his long looping pass did the rounds online as one of the best bits of skill from the opening round.
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