Malakai Fekitoa says he's looking forward to facing his former Munster team-mates in Nantes this Saturday night when Tonga opens their World Cup campaign against Ireland having had last weekend off.
The former All-Black centre, who won the World Cup with New Zealand in 2015, played one season for Munster, making 19 appearances as he helped the province in their unlikely journey to the URC title.
The 31-year-old has taken advantage of World Rugby's eligibility rules and will represent his native Tonga in France.
There will be some familiar faces for Fekitoa in the opposition on Saturday’s clash, with seven Munster players in the Irish squad including his fellow inside backs Jack Crowley and Conor Murray.
"It will be pretty weird to play against them, especially the Irish boys," said Fekitoa.
"I had a really good connection with those boys, they looked after me when I was there.
"[We’re] probably more connected because we won the championship.
"Those memories will last a lifetime. I will give everything on the pitch, it will be the same for Ireland."
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The change in World Rugby’s eligibility laws has seen Tonga add some real star power to their squad, with Malakai Fekitoa joined by former All Blacks and Ulster full-back Charles Piutau, back row Vaea Fifita, scrum-half Augustine Pulu, Pita Ahki who played sevens with New Zealand and former Wallaby lock Adam Coleman, who could make his debut against Ireland.
Representing Tonga at the World Cup is the latest chapter in Fekitoa’s itinerant rugby career, which so far has taken him from New Zealand to club teams in France, England, Ireland, and soon, Italy, having signed for Benetton in the summer.
Tonga are ready to kick off their #RWC2023 journey #IREvTGA pic.twitter.com/dM8zDF96iR
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 14, 2023
“I’m still very, very young and I’ve got a lot to offer to the game, especially at the highest level,” he says.
“With the rule change and everything that happened, I felt, why not give back, why not share my experience, and why not represent my family?”
“It’s different emotions and it’s a different feeling, playing for my own country where I was born and where most of my family are still.
“It’s kind of a different drive as well. You always wanted to play at the time with New Zealand, the best team in the world.
"Once you achieve that, you want to be something different. And for me, this is a new purpose.”
Fekitoa is fully aware of the challenge his team face against Andy Farrell’s Ireland side who rank number one in the world and kicked off their campaign with their 14th straight test win against Romania on Saturday.
"We are playing against the best team in the world right now. It will be our toughest game. We will have to match them physically.
"It's probably unrealistic [for us] to be in the finals, but it's where we want to be. We want to win games, let's start this week."
With Pool B generally considered the toughest pool of the tournament, featuring Gregor Townsend’s accomplished Scotland side, current holders South Africa as well as Romania, the Pacific Island nation will have their work cut out.
Fekitoa is realistic about how tough their pool will be but remains hopeful that perhaps their most star-studded team ever can cause a major upset to reach the knockout stages.
“It’s going to be very difficult,” says Fekitoa.
“We spoke about coming out and doing well for us and, hopefully, upsetting a few teams. We wanted to obviously finish as high as we can. Playoffs would be pretty special for our little country and it’s doable.”
With Fekitoa’s chance to wear the Tongan jersey on rugby’s biggest stage being delayed by their late start, it has at least given his side the opportunity to take stock of their opposition in the tournament’s opening weekend.
"(Waiting has been) good for us as we can see what’s going on and have a feel how the competition is going before we get into our work,” he said.
“There were mixed performances, maybe nerves. A lot of teams did not want to lose so we’ve not seen them taking risks. The next round will be different.”
