All Blacks: Fekitoa proves he's full of surprises

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.

His play of the day, though, came towards the end of the first half when he was the first All Black to turn and chase after a fly-hacked ball.

Something deep inside Fekitoa enabled him to scramble the ball over the line and in that one play there was compelling evidence he is a player with supreme commitment and courage.

How he found the legs to run down Cornal Hendricks is incredible and the suspicion is he was driven by pure desire.

"I was going back to the fall as fast as I could and then I saw the green jersey go past me and I thought I was never going to get him," says Fekitoa. "I was lucky and I was able to manage to grab the ball and got over the line. It was lucky.

"It was tough. The lungs were burning and I thought I wouldn't make it to halftime. I was struggling a bit but I managed to get through it."

Fekitoa has given the All Blacks the surprise bonus of another option at second-five - and a headache on whom to pick for the remaining tests.