'He's going to be great': Former All Blacks star predicts big future for Wasps youngster Jacob Umaga
Former All Blacks midfielder Malakai Fekitoa predicts English youngster and fellow Wasps teammate Jacob Umaga has a bright future ahead of him.
The 21-year-old playmaker has been impressed since coming into the starting side for the Coventry-based Gallagher Premiership club in place of ex-All Blacks pivot Lima Sopoaga, who has recently suffered from illness.
Sopoaga is now back in selection contention, but has struggled to make an impact since arriving from the Highlanders as Danny Cirpriani's replacement in 2018.
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The form of Umaga - the son of former Manu Samoa halfback, nephew of All Blacks legend Tana Umaga and cousin of Super Rugby midfielders Peter and Thomas Umaga-Jensen - could now heap extra pressure on the underwhelming Sopoaga.
"He's been playing really well and is already leading us forward," Fekitoa told The Rugby Paper.
"You can see he can handle pressure and do amazing stuff as well – for one so young he's going to be great for the club.
"It's exciting because he can break a tackle and is fast as well. His game-management is growing and you can see our attack has been getting better. At the same time, Lima is back now after his illness and we have Billy Searle, so it's great to have that competition between them."
"I never played against Tana but he was a great player for New Zealand who everyone looked up to and you can see that runs through the family," Fekitoa said.
"Jacob has spoken to Tana many times and learned a lot from the guy, so hopefully he can continue bringing that leadership to us."
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I have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
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