The ‘interesting thing’ about Leicester Fainga’anuku’s hybrid role as All Blacks hero sees way out of ‘copying’ Springboks
Crusaders star Leicester Fainga'anuku and All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie.
Stephen Donald insists that Leicester Fainga’anuku’s form for the Crusaders at openside flanker will allow Dave Rennie to avoid ‘copying’ the Springboks.
The All Blacks were once the innovators in the sport, but Rassie Erasmus’ side have taken on that mantle over the past few years.
South Africa’s most significant influence on the modern game has come with the invention of forward-heavy benches.
Other countries have followed but New Zealand under Ian Foster and Scott Robertson refused to budge and kept the traditional 5-3 split.
The All Blacks have been under pressure to follow the modern trend but Fainga’anuku’s brilliance up front for the Crusaders over recent weeks gives Rennie another option.
Impact and versatility option for the All Blacks
The 26-year-old has played the majority of his career at wing and centre, and is in contention to feature in the Test backline for the Nations Championship, but he may now be best suited to an impact role off the bench.
“Has his time being at seven changed that thinking? Is he still able to put his case forward for one of those jobs? That’s the interesting thing and whether or not that is affecting things,” Donald said on The Aftermatch with Kirst and Beav.
“From an All Black point of view, there’s been so much talk about the 6-2 split and us being copycats, and we need to copy everything South Africa does, but the great thing about Leicester is we don’t need to.
“You can have your 5-3 split knowing full well that if you want to do something a little bit different with who you’re covering on the bench with the forwards, you’ve got Leicester there who can cover a couple of those positions.”
Prior to the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, Fainga’anuku had never started in the pack during his career but he has been in the number seven jersey over the past three Crusaders matches.
He was arguably their best player against the Blues on Friday as the Christchurch outfit claimed a 36-20 success to boost their play-off hopes.
“This one at the weekend takes the cake since he’s been in the seven jersey. You could say some of those things weren’t exactly what a seven does but it’s the variety,” Donald said.
“The Crusaders have a wonderful pack but it’s a very working man’s pack. I think more than anything Leicester’s clearly added a great ball carrier to that group and it takes a little bit of pressure off Lio-Willie, who was essentially the go-to guy on that front.
“And then he gives you things no one outside Leicester can do, as far as forwards go – bar Ardie last year for Moana. He does do these off the cuff kicks which if a midfielder was doing it you would go, ‘it’s a nice bit of work’, but because he’s doing it with a number seven on his back…
“You think about the chip kick he did when he was in a pod, it’s not something you usually have to consider. I can’t remember the last time, with full respect, a Fletcher Newell did a chip kick when he was in one of those pods, it just doesn’t happen.”
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Why Fainga’anuku’s transition has worked
Fainga’anuku has always proved to be an effective carrier but it is his breakdown work which has enabled him to transition successfully to the back-row.
“His work at the breakdown, like so many of our midfielders at the moment when you think of Quinn Tupaea and [Timoci] Tavatavanawai, is just phenomenal,” Donald added.
“When he’s in the seven jersey, he’s close to the action and he gets more opportunities to pick his moments. The very best of them, they pick their moments.
“Leicester has certainly created conversation, he’s certainly creating an option for the All Blacks and to see where this little month of surprise performances is going to take him.”
