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An unfortunate injury to Highlanders talisman Timoci Tavatavanawai has caused Scott Robertson to call back one of the rising stars of New Zealand rugby: Leicester Fainga’anuku. Having burst through at the Crusaders as a winger, Fianga’anuku paused his All Blacks career to take up a lucrative contract at French giants Toulon. Now, at a time when there are serious questions being asked of the New Zealand backline, his return could not be more welcome.
Fainga’anuku left New Zealand having won multiple super rugby titles with the Crusaders, scoring 30 tries in 55 appearances, and having played in the 2023 world cup. He already has 7 caps and 5 tries to his name. Since his move to France, however, his game stepped up a gear.
He was Toulon’s top ball carrier in the TOP14 with 225 across the season, yet still achieve a fantastic 54% carry dominance rate and 61% gainline success. No one else in the whole TOP14 with over 200 carries made had better than 50% carry dominance. He also drew 2 or more defenders in 64% of his carries whilst still managing 31% tackle evasion – again the best of anyone with over 200 carries.
Most significantly, though, is he has permanently shifted from being a winger to being a centre – a position where the All Blacks are desperately seeking new options. 100% of his 1,753 Toulon minutes this season were with the number 13 on his back.
Fainga’anuku is a prime example of the new breed of international centres who are interchangeable with back row forwards (see Ben Earl and Andre Esterhuizen). His defensive game has improved substantially, winning 7 breakdown turnovers this season and 73 defensive rucks with 22% effectiveness – none of his Toulon teammates hit more rucks with better effectiveness. The player explained this transformation himself, revealing how Toulon had begun to use him as an extra back row:
“In France, I was playing more centre, and then managed to get myself into the loose forwards, So, I played the first 40-odd at centre and then the last 30 or 20 in the loose forwards. Honestly, I enjoy both areas of the game”
The Springboks should be praying Scott Robertson does not throw him straight into the XV after just a week in camp. New Zealand’s backline looked bereft of ideas against in their last game with metres, offloads and line breaks rarer that hen’s teeth. The 13 jersey is crying out for someone to make it their own with Ioane having been shunted back to the wing and Proctor struggling to gel with Jordie Barrett – who himself had a very bad day at the office last time out against Argentina.
Fainga’anuku’s physicality would offer a focal point to their attack and his excellent form would bring much needed confidence to the whole backline. He has bulked up considerably and has looked unplayable in the opening rounds of the NPC this season, already registering 3 tries in as many games.
Though he may not yet be on the level of de Allende or Kriel, there are many who think he is the long term solution for the 13 jersey. Whilst many All Blacks fans are looking to the past for inspiration, Leicester Fainga’anuku looks to the future: a player fit for rugby’s next generation.
