Malakai Fekitoa justifies the selectors' faith as he breaks clear to score a try at Ellis Park. Photo / Getty Images
The big winner in the All Blacks' overseas stint of the Rugby Championship was Malakai Fekitoa. The 22-year-old was again exceptional in the No12 shirt against the Boks and continues to surprise.
From being a player many saw as a bench man to cover injury to senior, more experienced players,
Fekitoa has emerged as a strong candidate to fill a starting jersey.
The selectors have been clear they have unbending faith in him, but even they would be pleasantly surprised at just how much he's improved in such a short time.
When the All Blacks left for Argentina, it is probable they had pencilled him in for 60 minutes against the Pumas and probably not much more. They had no choice but to rethink that when he was so good in La Plata. And he was better again at Ellis Park.
His power was obvious when he scooted through only a half gap to score his first test try. He clobbered Jan Serfontein in a big tackle a wee while after and for 80 minutes he was in the right place doing the right things.
