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He looked sharp in maroon on Saturday, he should get a decent run in blue on Friday, and the sky is the limit if he gets a chance to wear black at the next Rugby World Cup.
Boom Highlanders halfback Folau Fakatava has reiterated his desire to represent his adopted country if he gets a chance.
The situation is a little murky — the new World Rugby residency rules suggest the Tongan-raised star will have to wait until 2023 to play for the All Blacks, despite initially being eligible last year — but Fakatava is keen to play if he can.
"Yeah, obviously the All Blacks are the best in the world," he said this week.
"It would be good to have a crack at it.
"I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing, learn from the best, and hopefully if the opportunities come, I can take them."
Fakatava has been talking to his agent but letting those behind the scenes look into whether his eligibility can be determined sooner rather than later.
"For me, I don’t care too much. I’m just focusing on right now, and the team performance.
"If it happens, it happens."
His main focus over the past 10 months has been getting back to full fitness.
A right knee ACL tear last April required an operation then a lengthy rehabilitation period, but Fakatava looked sharp in a 25-minute stint off the bench in the Highlanders’ first-up loss to the Chiefs in Queenstown at the weekend.
"I was pretty confident in my rehab. I trusted the process.
"It hurt watching. I really wanted to get back out there, fresh and fit, and the knee is feeling good."
Good enough to start against the Crusaders on Friday night and go the distance if needed?
"Yeah, bro — 100%, bro."
The Highlanders have a stacked deck behind the scrum with Fakatava jostling with All Blacks great Aaron Smith, and the handy Kayne Hammington as a third option.
Fakatava revels in every opportunity he gets to challenge and learn from captain Smith.
"It’s been good. We’re pushing each other, no matter who starts."
The 22-year-old halfback was also relieved his family was safe after the volcanic eruption and tsunamis in Tonga last month.
He had not been able to contact anyone for a few days, but was delighted to get a call and find out the family had not really been affected.
Life is a bit quieter in the Queenstown bubble, and Fakatava is not complaining about being "locked in" at the resort.
"It’s my first time in Queenstown and I’ve really enjoyed it," he said.
"We’re swimming every day, going for a walks, nice weather — and we’ve got people looking after us."
No bungy jumping, though.
"Nah, more like PlayStation in our rooms."
Fakatava will take what he can get on Friday but would love a chance to start against the pace-setting Crusaders.
"The boys are pretty pumped for it. It’s fortunate we can play at home, and hopefully we get the job done."