What can Toulon expect from new midfield signing Malakai Fekitoa?
Is it fair to say the 25-year-old former All Black has never quite lived up to his potential? Jamie Wall looks back on the new Toulon signing’s abbreviated career in New Zealand rugby.
Full time blew on the Highlanders’ season on a wet and miserable Saturday night in Christchurch. The weather was so bad that the uncovered stands at each end of the ground were mostly deserted, and at full time most of those who had braved the torrential conditions made a quick beeline to their cars to navigate their way home through a city that was partially submerged.
It was the Crusaders’ third victory over the Highlanders this year, and the last time Malakai Fekitoa will play a game of rugby in New Zealand – at least for now. The centre has signed with big money French club Toulon, and leaves with the general consensus being that he didn’t fulfill his potential here.
But is that a fair assessment?
Let’s go back to the beginning of the story, which is one that could double as the apocryphal tale of New Zealand rugby’s relationship with the Pacific Islands – depending on how you look at it.
Born and raised in Tonga, Fekitoa first came to New Zealand to play on a sevens tour. He suitably impressed the Auckland rugby scouts enough that he was offered a scholarship at Wesley College, Jonah Lomu’s old school. After leaving there he quickly graduated to playing for the Auckland Mitre 10 Cup side and then was part of the Blues squad for the following 2012 season.
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On one hand, it’s nurturing talent and offering a young man an opportunity at a living he’d otherwise never have achieved. On the other, it’s poaching and pillaging the islands of their natural rugby talent.
This is where the twist in the tale comes. That year Ma’a Nonu decided he didn’t want new Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett telling him what to do, so he moved to the Blues. This pushed Fekitoa down the depth chart and eventually forced him to head south to the Highlanders the following season. Nonu’s pragmatism, or petulance (again, depending on how you look at it), was the catalyst for Fekitoa to establish himself in a Highlanders side unburdened by expectations. That move changed his entire career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l3IX1UbrRY
A huge season in 2014 saw him score one of the great Super Rugby tries, and made a lot of people take notice – including the All Blacks selectors. If you make the All Blacks, that’s what you get remembered for in New Zealand. No matter what else you’ve done.
Fekitoa was marked as the successor to Conrad Smith – a dual purpose midfielder who could distribute as well as break the line. The early signs were encouraging, after a solid few appearances off the bench, he was rushed into the starting lineup for the third Bledisloe Cup test in Brisbane. He repaid the selectors’ decision by scoring the winning try in the last play of the game.
So far, so good. In 2015 Fekitoa was the form centre of Super Rugby, and part of a team that would shatter all predictions by winning a maiden title in 2015 – ironically against a Hurricanes team that Nonu had returned to.
Later that year it was Nonu who starred for the All Blacks as they won their third World Cup. The Wellingtonian was one of five All Blacks to retire from the side at the end of the tournament, along with Conrad Smith. Fekitoa’s path into a long-term All Blacks spot was seemingly assured.
Except, that’s not what happened. The mass exodus sent the All Black machine into future-proofing mode, with a number of players given chances to show their wares during the long 2016 test season. Ryan Crotty emerged as the seemingly ‘safe’ option at second five, while Sonny Bill Williams’ outrageous talent couldn’t be ignored. Anton Lienert-Brown played one of the great All Black debut matches against the Wallabies in Wellington and suddenly Fekitoa was yesterday’s news.
After being dropped from the squad to play the Lions this season, he was given a lifeline when Williams was suspended for his shoulder charge in the second test. However, the rapid rise of Ngani Laumape to start ahead of him, plus the elevation of Jack Goodhue to the wider training squad would have signalled where the selectors think the midfield future lies.
And just like that, Fekitoa is gone. Of course, the massive irony in all of this is that for a guy that was ‘poached’ from Tonga, his test career was cut short by the massive depth of midfielders that the All Blacks can call upon from seemingly anywhere in the country.
His last touch of the ball in New Zealand rugby came on a horrible night at the end of a horrible game. Fekitoa’s Highlanders had been unable to string more than three phases together all night in their quarterfinal against the Crusaders, and the commentators were at pains to point out that the first time they mentioned his name was well into the second half. Desperate to salvage something after the hooter had gone in the 17-0 loss, Fekitoa was pole-axed by David Havili.
Now the question is: will he be worth very large pay packet he’ll be getting from Toulon?
On one hand, he’s played 24 tests for the All Blacks, 60 games for the Highlanders and won a Super Rugby title and World Cup. On the other, his 2017 form has been nothing special – in fact the most notable thing he’s done is get a very rough yellow card call back in round two that cost the Highlanders in a thrilling loss to the Crusaders.
The final chapter in the Malakai Fekitoa story is still a long way off being written. He is now in a position to earn a lot of money for a lot longer than most other ex-All Blacks who move north. He’s also in the position of being under the watchful eye of the most unhinged and reactionary owner of a rugby club in the world.
One thing is for sure though. When Fekitoa gets to France there is one guy he can thank for a decision that ultimately added a lot of value to his contract – his Toulon midfield partner Ma’a Nonu.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to comments