As if there wasn’t enough interest in the Crusaders’ opening game at their sparkling new stadium on Friday night, head coach Rob Penney has thrown fuel on the fire by selecting All Blacks back Leicester Fainga’anuku to start at openside flanker.
Fainga’anuku, a wing or midfielder, has long said he is open to a move to the pack after playing at loose forward during his two-year stint at French club Toulon and now his wish to be considered a “hybrid” player is closer to fruition.
Another leg injury for Ethan Blackadder has helped Fainga’anuku make his case but Penney still had the option of starting Johnny Lee in the No.7 jersey. Tasman player Lee, who had an impressive debut for the Crusaders last month, has been named on the bench.
“I played there a few times in France… it’s a position I’m familiar with,” Fainga’anuku said after his team’s training run at Te Kaha today. “Having the ability to adjust and offer that service – I’m prepared and ready for the job.
“It’s a bit more fun in the forwards – you get to do a bit more of the dirty week instead of the flash stuff.
“Having a forward that can do things backs can do – it’s a good growth area for our game.”
All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie will be one of many interested to see how the 26-year-old copes with the transition.
Fainga’anuku, however, was reluctant to look further than this “Super Round” weekend which will feature 10 of the 11 Super Rugby Pacific teams (minus the Force).
There is real pressure on the Crusaders, who lost to the Force and the Reds in Australia over the past fortnight, to beat the Waratahs, and not only for the need to start their tenancy at their new home in the right way.
The defending champions are currently sixth on the table and in danger of losing ground to the seventh-placed Waratahs with four rounds remaining after this one. The top six make the playoffs. Significantly, a defeat to the Sydney-siders will mean the Crusaders have lost to all four Australian teams this season.
Penney did not shy away from the importance of a “must-win” match.
“Probably two weeks ago it started to feel like must-wins,” he said. “We’ve struggled a little bit… there’s not one thing [wrong]. I’ve mentioned before, we’re leaking too many points. We’re scoring enough.
“Our balance in our game’s not quite right but we’ve got a great group and they’re working really hard… this may be the thing we need to bring us some momentum.”
Penney said Fainga’anuku had long pressed his case for a move to the forwards and now felt like the right time.
“Leicester has been keen to explore that opportunity more and more,” he said.
“We thought [starting] in this stadium was an apt place. He’s played in big stadiums before – big pressure moments. He loves the limelight and wants to be part of it. This felt like a good time against an opposition where he could add real value.”
It is clear that the Crusaders see Fainga’anuku’s explosive ball carrying around the fringes as a potential point of difference.
He has already proven to be loose-forward like in his ability over the ball at the breakdown and his dynamism with the ball could put an inconsistent team on the front foot. A potential vulnerability will be the requirement to keep his discipline if called upon to defend lineout drives.
The Crusaders are the only side to have training access to the new stadium this week. Not surprisingly, all concerned were impressed with the replacement to their rickety old “temporary” arena on the city fringe they called home since the earthquakes of 2010 and 2011.
“They’ve done a heck of a job, that’s for a sure,” Fainga’anuku said. “It’s beautiful. I think it’s an awesome representation of the region. This place has become the heart of the city and I think it’s something that our people deserve. It’s a big weekend for Ōtautahi."
Hooker Codie Taylor said: “I love the fact that they’ve really thought about it and gone all out. It’s just a place that can bring Christchurch together.”
Crusaders team to play Waratahs
At Te Kaha on Friday, kick-off 7.05pm
1. Finlay Brewis, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Antonio Shalfoon, 5. Tahlor Cahill, 6. Dom Gardiner, 7. Leicester Fainga’anuku, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hothan, 10. Taha Kemara, 11. Macca Springer, 12. David Havili ©, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Johnny McNicholl.
Reserves: 16. George Bell, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Johnny Lee, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. Rivez Reihana, 23. Dallas McLeod.
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