Malakai Fekitoa passes his first trial by media at Toulon

Malakai Fekitoa will not be drafted into Toulon’s team for the weekend’s Top 14 match against Brive, club boss Mourad Boudjellal has revealed.

A minor midfield injury crisis had prompted reports that the club’s latest new arrival may have little time to get to know his team-mates before lining up alongside them for the weekend’s match against the top-flight’s basement side Brive. But Boudjellal told reporters that, although the option had been considered, “the alternatives we have in the centres are all right, so he doesn’t have to play this weekend”.

Understandably, most of the questions were directed at Fekitoa, who was making his first appearance at the club just a day after he flew in to France. Despite obvious nerves, and the one about whether he’d play at the weekend, he successfully dead-batted question after question from the waiting French media.

“I feel good,” the former Highlander said, in response to the standard opening-shot question about his health. “I had the last couple of weeks off, so I’m fresh and the body’s ready to go, ready to play. I’m excited to see the boys training.”

He admitted to being nervous before arriving: “In the last week I couldn’t sleep at night, I was nervous of the change of moving to a whole new country, a different frame of rugby, new team – all sorts. For me, I’m nervous for my career as well because I want to hopefully bring a lot more into my game and become a lot better player than I used to be.”

“It is one of the biggest changes [I have faced]. I have moved to different teams so many times and every time I’ve moved I believe it has made me a better person and a better rugby player and I believe this one will help me too.”

The first difficult question – on whether it was difficult to give up the All Black dream – was some time coming, but Fekitoa was up to the task: “It was hard at first, but for me, obviously I believe that if you want to grow in rugby and as a person you have to do something different – for me coming here was hard because of the move to a different culture and a different experience.

“I think it will make me a lot better – not just a better rugby player but a better person. I believe this is the right place for me.”

A second poser, on comparing Top 14 rugby to Super Rugby, was handled with calm precision: “I have to work really hard to adapt to what I get given – and work really hard understanding the changes between Super Rugby and Top 14. I’ve watched a lot of games and it’s not that much different. It’s just what you make of it. I guess it just comes down to me listening and working hard.”

And he revealed something of the thought processes that took him from New Zealand to the south coast of France. “Yes. I spoke to Ma’a (Nonu) and Quade Cooper and a whole load of people before I came here. I spoke to Charles Piutau as well about being away from home and away from my family. They supported me and it helped with my decision.”

A question about the controversy his move has sparked in France was met with stonewall defence: “I spoke to a lot of people, and everyone had a different opinion of my decision. But I’ve put it behind [now], and I’m looking forward to helping the club by doing whatever I can and whatever role I’m given I’ll give it 100% to try and help win a championship.”

All that remained was to blow a little sunshine up the derrieres of key personnel at his new club. Asked about joining Toulon, he said: “I guess everything [to play here]. “There’s been some great players before me – even right now, with Ma’a Nonu, Luke McAlister and Basta. For me, as a young guy and as a midfielder, I look up to those guys and I want to be compared to those guys. I want to learn and play and help the team.

“From what I’ve heard, I had a picture of a lot of great things. I felt the club is huge in the rugby world – everyone’s talking about it. I want to still develop my game and play alongside great players. The chance to come here was a great way to help achieve that.”

On the competition for midfield places, he was All Blacks-humble: “It’s going to be tough but I believe it will be good for the team. It will be good for all of us to compete against each other and if you work hard enough you’ll get a chance to play.

“It’s just like anywhere you play in the world, in any team you go into there’s always a lot of good players. Here, there’s a lot of great players – and I think it will make me better and it will be good for the club to have all of us here to contribute to a winning environment.

“Whether I’m running the water or cleaning the gym or whatever role I’m given, I’ll give it 100%.”

Level one complete.