In a bold experiment by Crusaders coach Rob Penney, Leicester Fainga’anuku, typically seen at centre or wing for the All Blacks, was positioned in the forward pack during their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Waratahs. This strategic move echoed the days of Jonah Lomu, aiming to maximize Fainga’anuku's impact by increasing his ball-handling opportunities. The game ended in a 35-20 victory for the Crusaders, with Fainga’anuku's performance proving pivotal, albeit stirring mixed reviews on the effectiveness of such positional shifts.
James Parsons, a former All Blacks hooker, shared his insights on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, likening Penney's strategy to the utilization of Lomu in his playing days. "It was interesting, but I felt like the game plan was like back when Jonah Lomu was playing, and get Lomu the ball. In attack, in particular, he was still sort of playing that midfield role," Parsons noted. Despite the successful outcome, Parsons suggested that Fainga’anuku might have been just as effective in his regular position, raising questions about the necessity of the shift.
"A lot of short lineouts were used, and even in the pod work, I’m convinced he could still do a similar role in a 13 or an 11 jersey, in and around the pod work he does,"
Parsons also commented on Fainga’anuku's adaptation to the scrum dynamics, pointing out potential areas for improvement. "I was surprised that they didn’t put him on the blindside at scrum time. I thought they probably could have moved Lio-Willie or Dom Gardner just defensively," he explained, highlighting how tactical placements could enhance the team's defensive edge.
The discussion further delved into comparisons with other flankers' performances over the weekend. "Leicester had 23 touches and 19 times he carried, and if you look at Fraser McReight, he had 15 touches, carried eight times; Du Plessis Kirifi had 22 touches, he carried eight times. He needs to get that balance right because teams will find it a little bit predictable, and they’ll load up on him defensively," Parsons analyzed, suggesting a need for Fainga’anuku to diversify his play to maintain unpredictability.
Bryn Hall, former Crusaders scrum-half, also weighed in on the experiment's implications. "The Crusaders’ forward pack, for some parts of the year, hasn’t been able to get that lightning-quick ball," Hall remarked, supporting the decision to leverage Fainga’anuku's robust ball-carrying skills to enhance gain-line success.
The debate over Fainga’anuku's role underscores a broader discussion about player versatility and tactical innovation in rugby. As the game evolves, so too does the approach to maximizing player impacts, a testament to the dynamic nature of modern rugby.
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In a bold experiment by Crusaders coach Rob Penney, Leicester Fainga’anuku, typically seen at centre or wing for the All Blacks, was positioned in the forward pack during their Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Waratahs. This strategic move echoed the days of Jonah Lomu, aiming to maximize Fainga’anuku's impact by increasing his ball-handling opportunities. The game ended in a 35-20 victory for the Crusaders, with Fainga’anuku's performance proving pivotal, albeit stirring mixed reviews on the effectiveness of such positional shifts.
James Parsons, a former All Blacks hooker, shared his insights on the Aotearoa Rugby Podcast, likening Penney's strategy to the utilization of Lomu in his playing days. "It was interesting, but I felt like the game plan was like back when Jonah Lomu was playing, and get Lomu the ball. In attack, in particular, he was still sort of playing that midfield role," Parsons noted. Despite the successful outcome, Parsons suggested that Fainga’anuku might have been just as effective in his regular position, raising questions about the necessity of the shift.
"A lot of short lineouts were used, and even in the pod work, I’m convinced he could still do a similar role in a 13 or an 11 jersey, in and around the pod work he does,"
Parsons also commented on Fainga’anuku's adaptation to the scrum dynamics, pointing out potential areas for improvement. "I was surprised that they didn’t put him on the blindside at scrum time. I thought they probably could have moved Lio-Willie or Dom Gardner just defensively," he explained, highlighting how tactical placements could enhance the team's defensive edge.
The discussion further delved into comparisons with other flankers' performances over the weekend. "Leicester had 23 touches and 19 times he carried, and if you look at Fraser McReight, he had 15 touches, carried eight times; Du Plessis Kirifi had 22 touches, he carried eight times. He needs to get that balance right because teams will find it a little bit predictable, and they’ll load up on him defensively," Parsons analyzed, suggesting a need for Fainga’anuku to diversify his play to maintain unpredictability.
Bryn Hall, former Crusaders scrum-half, also weighed in on the experiment's implications. "The Crusaders’ forward pack, for some parts of the year, hasn’t been able to get that lightning-quick ball," Hall remarked, supporting the decision to leverage Fainga’anuku's robust ball-carrying skills to enhance gain-line success.
The debate over Fainga’anuku's role underscores a broader discussion about player versatility and tactical innovation in rugby. As the game evolves, so too does the approach to maximizing player impacts, a testament to the dynamic nature of modern rugby.