Fifita not feeling the love from Hansen
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Vaea Fifita was left confused after his omission from the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship squad.
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said he couldn’t select Fifita as a blindside flank in his squad because the Hurricanes used him in the second row during the 2018 Super Rugby
Instead, Hansen included Jackson Hemopo in his squad as blindside cover, even though the Highlanders star also mainly played at lock in Super Rugby.
“He told me that. But when I saw he got interviewed and he said he signed Hemopo to six, not lock, I kind of feel like he’s not telling me the truth,” Fifita told stuff.co.nz.
“But that’s life.”
Fifita said he prefers the No.6 jersey, but he was happy to play in the second row due to England’s Brad Shields filling that role.
“They asked me and I told them I don’t enjoy playing lock. I prefer six, but I know I can’t play six because Brad [Shields] is there. At the same time I didn’t mind because I just wanted to play.”
He added: “I like six because I can use my athleticism to do what I can do on the outside, rather than just stay tight and do the hard work like running into a brick wall and getting your body tired. Then you can’t do anything.”
Source: stuff.co.nz
