Jeff Wilson: Why other flankers are at a ‘different level’ to Leicester Fainga’anuku as All Blacks role doubted
Leicester Fainga'anuku in action for the Crusaders and All Blacks great Jeff Wilson.
All Blacks legend Jeff Wilson has decided to be the party pooper following Leicester Fainga’anuku’s impressive performances in the number seven jersey.
The 26-year-old moved from the backline to the forward pack three weeks ago and has started at openside flanker against the Waratahs, Hurricanes and Blues.
Fainga’anuku has shone in every match in that role but particularly received rave reviews for his display against the Aucklanders.
It has given All Blacks boss Dave Rennie plenty to think about and prompted host of The Breakdown, Kirstie Stanway-Thorne, to ask: “Has there been a better seven in New Zealand rugby over the last weeks than this guy?”
Test centurion Mils Muliaina was the first to answer, responding, “no”, before adding: “When he first came in and he played there, there was a lot of, ‘would he go alright?’ Every week he’s gone to another level and on Friday night he was exceptional.”
Should Fainga’anuku start at seven for the All Blacks?
The discussion then moved onto whether Fainga’anuku could start for the All Blacks in the back-row, but former fly-half Stephen Donald is not so sure.
“For me right now if you were looking forward to that South African Test series, I would say it’s either centre of impact off the bench, with the ability to play seven with 25 to go,” Donald said.
“But when you watched Friday night, all of a sudden you were looking at him as a seven, not a 13.”
If Donald was less committal then Wilson well and truly poured scorn on the idea, highlighting a clip which showed up a weakness in Fainga’anuku’s game.
The former All Blacks star started off by praising aspects of his performances and some of the unique qualities he can bring to a position, but warned that it will be an altogether different challenge in the international arena.
“I think a lot of factors have happened for the Crusaders. Their forward pack has really started to announce their presence in terms of their scrum work, lineout work, their defence,” he said.
“He’s been a part of the optimism, the excitement and he’s doing things on attack in a position where normally you don’t get ball carriers.
“We’re seeing him chip kick and grubber where they’re thinking he might carry. However, let’s be very, very careful here, the step up as a flanker to the next level [is massive].”
Credit: The Breakdown
A clip was then played of AJ Lam’s try which showed Fainga’anuku alongside Blues flanker Anton Segner, who had come on for Dalton Papali’i at openside early in the game.
The Crusaders star looked out on his feet chasing back in comparison to the sprightly Segner, ending up 15 metres behind his opposition loose forward.
Wilson raises doubts about Fainga’anuku
“You talk about if someone has been better, I’ll tell you who’s been pretty good, his name is Anton Segner. The engine to play seven, this is a play that’s happened at the 30-minute mark of the game and the difference between two guys having an understanding of the different engine you need,” Wilson said.
“There’s Leicester Fainga’anuku, who’s been into everything at this point [and is lagging behind], and Segner, who’s been on for just over 20 minutes at this point, and he’s playing at a different level.
“You talking about Du’Plessis Kirifi, you talk about Dalton Papali’i, you talk about genuine sevens. He’s doing all of the work in and around the breakdown, he’s doing some great stuff over the ball, but to say that it will translate to the international game and the tempo and the physicality of that, not quite yet.”
Credit: The Breakdown
Stanway-Thorne questioned whether a single clip is enough to make a judgement, asking: “Did you have to point out his one flaw in three weeks?”
However, Wilson insisted that there would be more examples and called for observers to keep a level head when assessing the Crusaders’ hybrid player.
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“I can go and search for plenty if you want. What I am saying is don’t start throwing all of these, ‘he should start in the All Black number seven jersey’,” he added.
“We’ve got guys like Richie McCaw and Sam Cane who have done that for years, he’s not there yet, let’s not get carried away.
“Impact in the position? No problem at all.”
