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‘You never know’: Leicester Fainga’anuku embracing All Blacks role before RWC
By Finn Morton
When the All Blacks revealed their 33-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup on Monday, not many fans would’ve been surprised to see Leicester Fainga’anuku among the outside backs.
Fainga’anuku had missed the entire Rugby Championship with an injury, but starred in his return to the Test arena against the Wallabies in Dunedin.
Lining up on the left wing, Fainga’anuku finished with the most carries out of any All Black (21) and the equal-most line breaks with two.
In his one and only World Cup audition, the utility made a statement that All Blacks selectors couldn’t possibly ignore. Fainga’anuku needed to be on that plane to France.
Selected as one of the five outside backs in the squad, Fainga’anuku is also set to provide cover in the midfield. The 23-year-old has played plenty of rugby at outside centre for the Crusaders.
“It’s been part of my preparation through Super Rugby,” Fainga’anuku told Newshub. “The ability and capability to cover midfield and wing is an awesome asset to have as a player.
“For me, nothing changes – even in this environment. It’s an opportunity for me to make sure I have those skill sets in my toolbox and take a step forward if the team needs (it).
“I might even get the call-up to loose – you never know.”
Fainga’anuku didn’t travel to Argentina with the All Blacks ahead of their opening Test of the year, and injuries continued to dampen his World Cup dream – or so it seemed.
After focusing on “getting my body right” for Test rugby, Fainga’anuku helped inspire the All Blacks’ valiant comeback against Australia at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“Lucky enough, Fozzie (coach Ian Foster), the physio and the doctor have given me time to heal, get to 100 per cent to give myself the best opportunity to make the squad,” he added.
“I had the opportunity down in Dunedin to do that and dust a few cobwebs at the same time as enjoying a bit of footy.”
The All Blacks will play arch-rivals South Africa at Twickenham later this month. That Test is their final opportunity to play before their World Cup opener against France next month.
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Latest Comments
But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
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