Leicester Fainga'anuku's recent transition from the backline to flanker has sparked significant discussion, particularly following his standout performances for the Crusaders in the number seven jersey. The 26-year-old's adaptation to the forward pack over the past three weeks—including starts against the Waratahs, Hurricanes, and Blues—has not gone unnoticed, prompting a debate about his potential role with the All Blacks.
Kirstie Stanway-Thorne, host of The Breakdown, posed the question: “Has there been a better seven in New Zealand rugby over the last weeks than this guy?” Mils Muliaina, a former All Black, was quick to praise Fainga’anuku, saying, “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.”
The conversation then shifted to whether Fainga’anuku could secure a starting position as a flanker for the All Blacks. Stephen Donald, however, expressed reservations, suggesting that Fainga’anuku might be more suited to a dynamic role off the bench, capable of covering both the centre and flanker positions towards the latter stages of a game.
“But when you watched Friday night, all of a sudden you were looking at him as a seven, not a 13.”
Jeff Wilson, another All Blacks great, acknowledged Fainga’anuku's impressive contributions but cautioned against premature expectations at the international level. “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,” Wilson noted, highlighting Fainga’anuku's unconventional play, including chip kicks and grubbers. Yet, he emphasized the significant step up required to compete as a flanker internationally.
The discussion took a critical turn when a clip was shown of AJ Lam’s try, where Fainga’anuku appeared fatigued and lagged behind Anton Segner, a fellow flanker. Wilson pointed out this moment as indicative of the different physical demands of the position. “You talk about genuine sevens like Du’Plessis Kirifi and Dalton Papali’i, who do 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.”
Stanway-Thorne questioned whether a single clip was enough to draw such conclusions, to which Wilson assured there were more examples to substantiate his caution. He urged a balanced perspective in evaluating Fainga’anuku’s suitability for the All Blacks’ number seven jersey, reminding everyone of the high benchmarks set by predecessors like Richie McCaw and Sam Cane.
While the debate continues, Fainga’anuku's performances have undoubtedly added a thrilling dimension to the Crusaders' gameplay, blending instinct with innovation. Whether this translates into a permanent role within the All Blacks remains to be seen, but for now, his impact on the field is undeniable.
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Leicester Fainga'anuku's recent transition from the backline to flanker has sparked significant discussion, particularly following his standout performances for the Crusaders in the number seven jersey. The 26-year-old's adaptation to the forward pack over the past three weeks—including starts against the Waratahs, Hurricanes, and Blues—has not gone unnoticed, prompting a debate about his potential role with the All Blacks.
Kirstie Stanway-Thorne, host of The Breakdown, posed the question: “Has there been a better seven in New Zealand rugby over the last weeks than this guy?” Mils Muliaina, a former All Black, was quick to praise Fainga’anuku, saying, “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.”
The conversation then shifted to whether Fainga’anuku could secure a starting position as a flanker for the All Blacks. Stephen Donald, however, expressed reservations, suggesting that Fainga’anuku might be more suited to a dynamic role off the bench, capable of covering both the centre and flanker positions towards the latter stages of a game.
“But when you watched Friday night, all of a sudden you were looking at him as a seven, not a 13.”
Jeff Wilson, another All Blacks great, acknowledged Fainga’anuku's impressive contributions but cautioned against premature expectations at the international level. “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,” Wilson noted, highlighting Fainga’anuku's unconventional play, including chip kicks and grubbers. Yet, he emphasized the significant step up required to compete as a flanker internationally.
The discussion took a critical turn when a clip was shown of AJ Lam’s try, where Fainga’anuku appeared fatigued and lagged behind Anton Segner, a fellow flanker. Wilson pointed out this moment as indicative of the different physical demands of the position. “You talk about genuine sevens like Du’Plessis Kirifi and Dalton Papali’i, who do 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.”
Stanway-Thorne questioned whether a single clip was enough to draw such conclusions, to which Wilson assured there were more examples to substantiate his caution. He urged a balanced perspective in evaluating Fainga’anuku’s suitability for the All Blacks’ number seven jersey, reminding everyone of the high benchmarks set by predecessors like Richie McCaw and Sam Cane.
While the debate continues, Fainga’anuku's performances have undoubtedly added a thrilling dimension to the Crusaders' gameplay, blending instinct with innovation. Whether this translates into a permanent role within the All Blacks remains to be seen, but for now, his impact on the field is undeniable.