Even though he's being made to wait for his test debut, All Blacks hopeful Folau Fakatava has a bright future in the black jersey, halfback Aaron Smith believes.
Fakatava, 22, is one of six new faces in the All Blacks' squad for the three test series against Ireland, as he and Finlay Christie beat competition from veterans Brad Weber and TJ Perenara to deputise for Smith in the No.9 jersey.
The Highlanders halfback has gone from strength to strength at Super Rugby level, where he's grown accustomed to providing support for Smith.
For this week though, Fakatava will have to wait, as Finlay Christie was chosen to provide cover at halfback for Smith, as the All Blacks host Ireland at Eden Park in the first test of the year on Saturday.
But after being given dispensation from World Rugby to represent New Zealand after migrating from Tonga, Smith is confident Fakatava has the tools to be an All Blacks regular, as and when his chance comes.
"Ever since the Mount [Maunganui] camp, Kerikeri and here, he's just been himself - which has been the great thing," Smith said.
"He listens, he learns and picks things up very quickly. He doesn't look out of place at all.
"You can tell he's chomping at the bit to go, but his time will come. He'll have a massive impact when he does.
"He's such a great player and a young man."
Smith also asserts that Fakatava isn't the only new face settling into the All Blacks' camp.
Winger Leicester Fainga'anuku will make his starting debut on Saturday, while loose forward Pita Gus Sowakula will likely come off the bench.
Also in the squad are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Stephen Perofeta and Aidan Ross, who'll also be hopeful of test debuts later in the series.
"All the new boys have done really well," Smith continued.
But I think the work we put in in Kerikeri around on-field but also off-field connecting as a group, and probably talking about a lot of things that don't have much to do with rugby, getting that deeper connection.
"So then when you cross the line together, you're not playing for the rugby player, but for the man as well."
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