Pacific Island nations of their top talent

Barrett will. There is also the prospect of fit-again Nehe Milner-Skudder and Dane Coles getting in on the act. And how about a dash of Damian McKenzie?

It’s a frightening lineup of match winners for opponents to deal with over 80 minutes.

But there’s another side to the Fifita story. Should he really be playing for the All Blacks at all? Or is New Zealand rugby using its money and power to unfairly raid small neighbours?

Look, I’m glad — make that very excited — Fifita is in the All Blacks, from a parochial point of view, and no doubt he is as well. We are going to see something special.

But I’m also torn, uneasy. Fifita is a Tongan who came to this country, at an advanced age, for no other reason than rugby. If World Rugby was serious about real world rugby, Fifita would be playing for Tonga.

Fifita was 18 when he came to New Zealand with the Tongan junior side, when he was spotted by a delighted Tamaki College coach. He turned 19 the year he played for the school’s first XV in the Auckland 1A competition.

New Zealand can argue it is polishing a raw stone which may have remained forever hidden. That’s a convenient truth.

The New Zealand Rugby contract system is at the centre of this conundrum, because it mainly only employs Super Rugby players who are available for the All Blacks.

In proper professional sport, individual clubs scout, develop and employ young players from any country without it necessarily changing their nationality. For a famous football example, Lionel Messi joined Spanish giants Barcelona at the age of 13, but this didn’t stop him being Argentinian.

But the Fifita situation is part of a larger scandal, in which rugby patronises the smaller nations who are classified as second tier, minus equal voting rights. Robbed of status and sustained success, the Pacific Island teams find it even harder to retain players. No chicken, no egg.

It’s a complex argument in this part of the world, where our societies are so interwoven. Many Pacific Island kids no doubt dream of playing for the mighty All Blacks. But just because they want to play for the All Blacks, doesn’t mean they should.

Remedies? I used to stoutly defend the rule which prevents players nation-hopping. I’m not so sure anymore, because the small island countries keep getting stiffed.

The system is rigged, from the international boardroom down.

This includes European clubs making it difficult for Pacific Island players to pursue their international careers.

It’s a tricky situation. But if World Rugby was serious about running a legitimate, truly competitive World Cup, Fifita would not be playing for the All Blacks.