Fekitoa: Paolo Odogwu is the vital piece for Wasps
COVENTRY, ENGLAND - APRIL 03: Paolo Odogwu of Wasps breaks with the ball during the Heineken Champions Cup match between Wasps and Clermont Auvergne at the Ricoh Arena on April 03, 2021 in Coventry, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
MALAKAI Fekitoa believes it's only “a matter of time” before his Wasps teammate Paolo Odogwu wins an elusive first England cap.
Odogwu, 24, made his first start of the year last weekend against Clermont Auvergne in the Champions Cup having spent the whole of the Six Nations kicking his heels.
Head coach Eddie Jones declined to use the centre/wing, who went into England camp bang in form with a man-of-the-match, two-try performance against Bath, whilst also electing not to release him back to his club .
However, former All Black Fekitoa recognises class when he sees it and is confident Odogwu's patience will eventually pay off.
“We all saw what he could do before he went to camp and it's good to have him back,” said Fekitoa.
“Players like him, you need to give as much ball to as possible.
“He's a big, strong boy who has got great skills and speed, and he is still young. I expect him to be in the England team soon.”
Fekitoa made a positive contribution of his own last weekend, scoring Wasps' only try ina 20-19 defeat to Sale Sharks.
Now in his second season at Wasps, Fekitoa has a calm aura about him, and totally different to the individual who publicly admitted in 2016 that he had anger issues.
Walks in the countryside before and after training help keep his mind from thinking about rugby, 24-7, as well as a new-found hobby – jigsaw making.
The Tonga-born centre admits however, he is better at finding the edges of opposition defences than the pieces laid out on the table of his Leamington Spa home.
“I'm doing a 1,000-piece one, it's taking a while. I'm not very good , I've been at it for a couple of weeks and I still haven't finished.
“When I have an afternoon off, I try and stay away from rugby and go for a walk, read or have another go at the jigsaw.
“It's hard (to switch off), especially when the result doesn't go your way; your mind can go crazy thinking about ‘what could I have done?' or ‘how can I improve my performance?'
“It's been a difficult year without fans and no socials but these things all help me relax.”
By JON NEWCOMBE
