1
'I feel like I'm carving him up': New All Black Fakatava's sights set on pushing Aaron Smith
New All Black halfback Folau Fakatava is one of six new faces in Ian Foster’s All Blacks squad but the young No 9 is no stranger to competing with incumbent starter Aaron Smith.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 22-year-old and the veteran Smith have formed a 1-2 partnership at the Highlanders over the last few seasons that has been one of the more exciting combinations in the country, leading to calls for Fakatava to reach higher honours early in his career.
After being named in the All Blacks squad, a confident Fakatava jovially spoke of his healthy competition with Smith and how they hype each other up.
“I always love competing with him,” Fakatava said of Smith speaking to One News .
“I feel like I’m carving him up at training. I told him ‘I’m coming for you’ and he knows I’m putting a bit of pressure on him.”
The Tongan-born halfback has had to overcome an ACL injury which derailed his 2021 Super Rugby season and also put his potential All Black debut in doubt. Due to the injury, the Highlander wasn’t able to make his debut before World Rugby’s rule changes.
The residency eligibility laws changed at the start of 2022, extending from three years to five, meaning the previously-qualified Fakatava would have had to then wait until post-2023 to reach the All Blacks.
An exemption granted by World Rugby earlier this year has paved the way for Fakatava to earn selection and potentially don the black jersey for the first time against Ireland, much like Aaron Smith did 10 years ago in 2012.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pair were on the phone to each other after hearing of their selections in the first All Black squad of 2022, while Fakatava said he ‘almost’ gave up after his injury last year.
“We were just hyping each other up and he was saying he was super proud of me and looking forward to getting into camp and keep doing what we do,” he said.
“I wanted to be in the All Blacks last year but that didn’t happen. It was quite tough. I was almost giving up on that dream but my mum and dad, my partner, were always there telling me ‘you got this.'”
Smith was excited about Fakatava’s arrival at the club back in 2019 and the All Black centurion has been open about his approach in the past about trying to pass on as much information as he can to the young halfback.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s something, as an older player, you think about, ‘Oh yeah, it only takes a couple years and this guy could be the guy’, so showing that pathway, trying to get them involved in our culture early to see if they can fall in love with it, that’s the key,” Smith said told RugbyPass last year.
“I try to build that relationship with all my halfbacks, with Folau, Kayne and then obviously Whiskey’s new,” Smith said.
“In particular with halfbacks, I always try to take interest if they want help or want to have a chat, I’m definitely available, always.”
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments