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Ex-All Black sceptical of Folau Fakatava's inclusion in national squad ahead of long-serving veterans

(Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

Former All Blacks hooker James Parsons says Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava may have to undergo an apprentice scheme before earning selection into Ian Foster’s squad.

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Fakatava has been a standout in Super Rugby Aotearoa this season, forming a strong partnership with co-captain and fellow halfback Aaron Smith in the Dunedin franchise’s matchday squad.

Regardless of whether he has started or featured off the bench, the 21-year-old has turned heads with his dynamic running game and abrasive defending as he begins to realise his highly-touted potential.

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That has led to numerous calls for the youngster to be elevated into the All Blacks squad later this year as many view him as New Zealand’s long-term successor to Smith.

However, for all that Fakatava can offer, Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that he and the All Blacks may be better off by introducing him into the national squad in a non-playing capacity via an apprenticeship programme.

Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett toured with the All Blacks as apprentices in 2013 and 2016, respectively, with the aim of aiding their development and exposing them to the off-field requirements of a test player.

Parsons said a similar pathway could be used to slowly introduce Fakatava to international rugby, which would in turn, he added, allow other long-serving halfbacks an opportunity to break into the national squad.

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“It’s a tough one because I think Brad Weber has signed on and worked so hard to put himself right back in the mix,” the two-test hooker said.

“I think guys like [fellow panellist] Bryn [Hall] – I know he won’t like me saying this – but he’s worked really hard, he’s been in and around the environment, and his counterpart, Mitch Drummond, as well.

“There’s guys that have been in and around that scene and biding their time that probably deserve an opportunity or some opportunity in and around that All Blacks squad as well.

“I do like the apprenticeship style for someone like Folau Fakatava in the sense that the growth he’s had under Aaron Smith already, and we saw that development in the [Hawke’s Bay] Magpies.

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“We’re starting to really see it in the Highlanders, and I think we’ve seen the benefit it is for him as an individual and his play, so something like that, some exposure to that level in a slow burn, could be all the more beneficial for him.

“With the nature of the tests, there could be some opportunity for that in-house experience and then sending him back to some Mitre 10 Cup [NPC] or something like that. That could work really well.”

Parsons conceded that if Fakatava continued his rich vein of form, he could be too irresistible of a prospect for All Blacks boss Ian Foster to turn down.

However, he reaffirmed the likes of Weber, Hall and Drummond all deserved opportunities in the national squad as reward for their persistent loyalty to New Zealand rugby.

“If he keeps playing the way he’s playing, I think he’s knocking down the door for a genuine chance as well because he is playing some seriously good code.

“I don’t want his inexperience to play against him either because he’s playing good enough code to warrant selection as well, but I just don’t think we can look away from guys like Brad Weber, Bryn Hall and Mitch Drummond who have stayed around for an opportunity as well.”

Hall, who has never been capped by the All Blacks despite having played Super Rugby since 2013, admitted it was difficult for him to comment on the situation given he is in direct competition with Fakatava for a place in Foster’s squad.

In fact, the pair both started at halfback in the Highlanders’ shock 33-12 victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch last Friday, a match in which Fakatava flourished.

Nonetheless, Hall noted that those selected for the All Blacks should be picked on merit, and given the form Fakatava has shown this season, it might be too difficult to exclude him from the national set-up.

“I think if we’re just looking at his performances at Super Rugby level – especially in a game like it was on the weekend against a team that’s filled with a lot of All Blacks, big-game players and probably a good benchmark for test level and being in that All Black environment, playing against a team of that calibre – he played well,” Hall said.

“You want to warrant [All Blacks selection] on performances and he played really well and has been playing well off the bench as well with Nuggy [Smith] in that apprenticeship.

“If you continue to keep playing like that, then you probably warrant selection if you’re playing consistently like that every single time.

“They’ve obviously had a lot of success around their apprenticeship programme. Jordie and Ardie have been through that process as well… It’s a slow burn to be able to bring them into the environment and get them to have a look at what it’s all about.

“Then again, if you consistently keep playing at a high level, then you’ve also got to have the conversation around warranted performances of being selected.

“He’s been in tremendous form and his growth has been the best thing that I’ve seen from him, especially in a game like it was on the weekend where it was against us.

“Again, I just thought his performances continue to keep getting better and that’ll be the main thing for him moving forward.”

Fakatava is in doubt for this weekend’s clash between the Highlanders and Chiefs in Dunedin as he awaits the results of a knee scan for an injury he picked up in the win over the Crusaders.

Hall, meanwhile, is set to face off against the Hurricanes in Wellington as he and his teammates look to maintain their place at the top of the Super Rugby Aotearoa standings.

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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