Crusaders boss’ verdict on ‘instinctive’ Leicester Fainga’anuku’s form since making positional switch
Crusaders star Leicester Fainga'anuku and head coach Rob Penney (inset).
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has hailed the impact which All Blacks utility back Leicester Fainga’anuku has made since moving into the forwards recently.
Penney sprung a surprise when he selected Fainga’anuku, who usually plays on the wing or in midfield, on the openside flank for their Round 11 Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Waratahs last month.
The 26-year-old had already shifted into the pack on occasion this season, and also did that at his previous club Toulon, but prior to that he always started games in the backline.
Fainga’anuku impressed on the flank against the Waratahs which meant he retained his position for the Crusaders‘ clash with the Hurricanes the following week and delivered another solid performance.
In fine form against the Blues
However, he was superb on Friday when the Crusaders sealed a 36-20 victory over the Blues in Christchurch as he delivered a superb all-round performance in which he had a high work-rate on attack and defence.
Fainga’anuku was in the thick of the action throughout against the Blues and although he did not cross the whitewash – which he did against the Waratahs and Hurricanes – he showed off a vast array of skills with deft offloads and chips and finished that match with two try assists.
Penney couldn’t hide his delight at how Fainga’anuku has responded since being moved to the forwards.
The decision to switch him to the forwards was initially an experiment which Penney admitted is paying off handsomely.
“Hard to change…he can do all things,” the head coach told reporters regarding Fainga’anuku’s recent form.
Apart from being a willing ball carrier against the Blues, Fainga’anuku also impressed on defence as he made 15 tackles and won two crucial turnovers.
“I said to him during the week, ‘You’re still a centre, mate’, because it just felt like he was falling into the role of a loosie purely,” said Penney.
“To see him put those couple of kicks in, one of them was premeditated and the other was instinctive, and we ended up getting tries from them both.”
Fainga’anuku is happy with his performance against the Blues which has consolidated their position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and they are currently occupy fourth place after 12 matches played.
“Literally, I think I might play with a number zero or without a number at this stage,” he said jokingly after the match. “Start of the game was obviously nailing my role at seven around set-piece, lineout, scrum, mauls, through phase.
‘Trying to find every opportunity I can contribute to the team’
“Just making sure my feet are moving around the park and trying to find every opportunity I can contribute to the team.”
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Despite doing well in head-to-head clashes with All Blacks openside flankers Du’Plessis Kirifi and Dalton Papali’i in the games against the Hurricanes and Blues, Fainga’anuku is not getting carried away with his performances and revealed that he is just focusing on his own preparation and the adjustment required.
“I wouldn’t say [I’m] comfortable. Obviously, it’s a role that is continually growing, but the awesome thing about it is it’s a challenge I enjoy waking up to,” he explained.
“I’m not really one to try and compare or face off with other opponents. For me, it’s always about me versus me. At the end of the day, it’s the man in the mirror that’s going to define how well you play.”
