The Leicester Fainga’anuku experiment appears set to continue at the Crusaders after another outstanding performance from the midfielder in the unfamiliar No.7 jersey against the Hurricanes at the weekend.
Fainga’anuku scored a try in his first start at openside flanker for the Crusaders against the Waratahs in Christchurch’s super round at Anzac weekend and he repeated the effort – again from close range – in his side’s 38-31 defeat at Wellington’s Cake Tin.
With a crunch game against the Blues coming at Christchurch’s new stadium on Friday night as the Crusaders attempt to keep themselves in the playoff mix, the All Black is odds-on to remain in the pack and that suits him just fine.
“I’ll play anywhere really, I don’t mind,” he told 1News today. “At this stage I might find myself at halfback next week.
“That’s all up to the coaches. I just do the job. Whatever they want I put my hand up for it.”
Forwards coach Dan Perrin, a former Crusaders front rower, said he was pleased with Fainga’anuku’s versatility and ability to learn on the job.
“He’s an impressive footballer and human isn’t he?” Perrin said. “Keeping it nice and simple at set piece time [is key]. I think he’s picked it up awesomely.
“His effort around the field on phase play on both attack and defence is phenomenal. To jump into a No.7 jersey where you hardly get a chance to breathe in 80 minutes is a real testament to him and he’s hungry for more.
“He jumped in the lineout last week and is talking to the props at scrum time and giving them a bit of advice now as well. He’s a fast learner and knows the pictures he’s looking for.
“Whatever is in front of him for that week he’s all in on it.”
A “hybrid” player who can cover forwards and backs and provide flexibility on the bench is trending in the international game and Perrin said there was little pressure on Fainga’anuku to focus on one position.
“I can see him doing both and being really successful at it,” he said.
Fainga’anuku said: “I hope I’m doing a good job. It’s not an easy job to slip in there at loose forward in a massive role - keeping in mind you don’t want to let the big boys down.”
He said there was a lot of preparation in learning forwards' moves, including lineout calls, as well as backs' strikes, but that it was “something I enjoy and pride myself on.
“I was joking with the boys earlier saying I’ve been in the forwards for two weeks but it feels like I’ve been there my whole career.
“The body is still slowly getting conditioned to it. In the backs you do a lot of running but in the forwards there’s a lot of contact and obviously a lot of rucks. I try to find a little bit of space to have a bit of a dance around.”
Fainga’anuku, a 26-year-old who has played 12 Tests, said he had now found himself in virtually every group chat at the Crusaders.
“Being a middle man who can cover both units is quite special.”
Watch the full Leicester Fainga'anuku interview on 1News at 6pm
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