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Big year ahead: Folau Fakatava not trying to be 'the next Aaron Smith’
Folau Fakatava has some big shoes to fill in 2024. With All Blacks great Aaron Smith leaving the Highlanders at the end of last season, Fakatava is primed for a big year ahead.
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Fakatava, who has played a couple of Test matches for New Zealand, has long been touted as the successor to Smith’s throne in the Highlanders’ No. 9 jersey.
The 24-year-old started at halfback in pre-season clashes against Moana Pasifika and the Hurricanes, and Fakatava is universally expected to continue in that role this season.
But don’t expect him to be an Aaron Smith clone. As legendary as Smith was for both club and country, Fakatava is a special, unique and skilful player in his own right.
As captain Billy Harmon told reporters at the Super Rugby Pacific season launch on Wednesday, the Highlanders want their new star scrum-half to go out there and “show what he’s good at.”
“He’s been going,” Harmon told reporters in Auckland. “He’s been playing really well, training really well.
“I think it’s really clear that he’s not trying to be the next Aaron Smith. They’re two completely different people, different styles of play.
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“Our attack coach, Kenny (Lynn), he knows that and he’s going to set up a game that can help Folau be at his best and show what he’s good at.”
The Highlanders have a point to prove this season. Even without the likes of Smith and Shannon Frizell – among the 16 players who left in 2023 – they’ve still got a debt to settle.
When the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs got underway last time out, the Highlanders were the only New Zealand team not to make the cut. They missed out on points differential to the Queensland Reds.
But their pre-season 52-19 demolition of the Hurricanes last weekend is sure to give them a lift ahead of the new campaign in a competition that “means everything” in New Zealand.
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“It means everything. It’s obviously a slightly changed version but it’s a competition we all grew up watching,” Harmon said.
“It’s massive for New Zealand rugby, how we grow our top team. I think it’s everything around rugby.”
As confirmed by the Highlanders recently, Billy Harmon will captain the side again in 2024 while playmaker Sam Gilbert will step up as the team’s new vice-captain.
All Black Ethan de Groot, Sean Withy, Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens round out the leadership group.
“Billy leads by his actions – especially on the field. He’s very measured around his delivery of messages and he’s really calm, which is hugely important,” head coach Clarke Dermody said in a statement.
“He’s one of our best players on the field and well respected by the team from what he did last year, and I know he’s looking forward to leading the team again.
“Sam coming in as vice-captain is new for us,” He added. ‘Sam’s got a good rugby brain and is involved heavily around our strategy.
“They (Billy and Sam) work well together and are well aligned already.
“The leadership group has a good spread of experience and youth and we’ve also got the opportunity to grow our younger leaders and bring them into the group when we see fit.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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