QUICK CROSSWORD
ACROSS
7. Older person (6,7)
8. Fleet of small ships (8)
9. Slightly open (4)
10. Yearns to possess (6)
12. Boundaries (6)
14. Spin out (3)
15. Respond (6)
17. Jewish greeting (6)
19. Be uncritically fond of (4)
21. Drug (8)
23. Fast to anger (5-8)
DOWN
1. Much used (4-4)
2. Small (6)
3. By mouth (4)
4. Handicaps (8)
5. Deactivate a bomb (6)
6. Very big (4)
11. Peacefulness (8)
13. Cheated (3-5)
16. Violent twist or pull (6)
18. Idolised (6)
20. Responsibility (4)
22. Slope (4)
The Highlanders are trying to sell Folau Fakatava a vision of making the All Blacks while learning under Aaron Smith but admit other Super Rugby clubs are chasing him.
Smith announced yesterday that he has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby until 2023, and given the amount of cash that is sloshing around Japanese rugby at the minute that’s a coup for the All Blacks and the Highlanders.
However, Highlanders boss Roger Clark told Stuff yesterday they had also been pursuing a contract extension for Fakatava for a considerable period of time.
‘‘We’ve been in discussion with his agent since the middle of last year,’’ Clark said.
‘‘That’s ongoing, and as you can imagine he’s pretty hot property.’’
Fakatava signed to the Highlanders as a 19-year-old and is in the last year of a three-year deal. After a standout campaign for Hawke’s Bay in the Mitre 10 Cup last year, he is likely to have a number of suitors.
Two Crusaders No 9s Bryn Hall and Ere Enari are both off-contract at the end of 2021, creating a potential vacancy at the champions.
The Blues have Sam Nock, Finlay Christie and Jonathan Ruru, but Leon MacDonald would surely welcome Fakatava to partner with Beauden Barrett and Roger TuivasaSheck in 2022’s gold-plated lineup.
Smith’s decision to stay means Fakatava will remain in a deputy role at the Highlanders, but Clark said that should be no barrier to Fakatava making the All Blacks.
‘‘You just have to look at the Crusaders to see how many players they’ve got behind other players,’’ Clark said.
‘‘But for us Aaron Smith is pretty determined to give him the leg up that [former All Blacks No 9] Jimmy Cowan gave him.
‘‘We’ve got a great history here with our halfbacks. We had two All Blacks halfbacks and one passed that onto the other.
‘‘Hopefully, that will happen again with these two.’’
A lot may depend on the assurances Highlanders coach Tony Brown can give Fakatava about game time.
Brown had already signalled to Stuff that Fakatava would be a key player this year and gave him 23 minutes off the bench against the Crusaders on Friday night.
It’s not impossible to see Fakatava developing into a 20-40 minute player at the Highlanders who also starts three or four games a year before
eventually taking over from Smith in 2024.
Whether that is enough to keep him in the Deep South remains to be seen, but Clark said the Highlanders saw him as a ‘‘10 year-player’’ at the club.
‘‘That’s what we’d like,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s the guy we selected three years ago to be Aaron Smith’s replacement.
‘‘Now he’s getting to the stage where he’s done his apprenticeship, and he’s ready to start challenging for that mantle. Now is his opportunity. Nothing is given and we don’t anything for granted but I’d like to think he loves being a Highlander and obviously we’ll do our best to keep him in Dunedin.’’