All Blacks utility back Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku has revealed that he is happy to \u201cplay anywhere\u201d for the Crusaders after Super Rugby Pacific\u2019s defending champions selected him on the openside flank in their recent matches.<\/p>\n
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney sprung a surprise for his side\u2019s Super Round fixture against the Waratahs by naming Fainga\u2019anuku, who usually plies his trade on the wing or at centre, in the number seven jersey.<\/p>\n
Penny\u2019s gamble paid off as the Crusaders<\/a> clinched a 35-20 triumph with Fainga\u2019anuku<\/a> delivering a fine all-round performance and he crossed for one of his team\u2019s tries.<\/p>\n That selection call dominated the build-up and reaction to that encounter as it was the first time that the All Blacks<\/a> star lined up amongst the forwards in New Zealand, although he had enjoyed cameos in that role during his time with Top 14 outfit Toulon between 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n Following the win against the Waratahs, Fainga\u2019anuku retained his position in the Crusaders\u2019 starting line-up for their next match against the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend and although his side suffered a 38-31 defeat to Super Rugby Pacific<\/a>\u2018s table-toppers, he shone again and his efforts were rewarded with another try.<\/p>\n Set to continue in the position<\/p>\n After impressing against the Waratahs and Hurricanes, the 26-year-old is expected to line up in that position again when the Crusaders host the Blues in Christchurch on Friday and he is happy to do that.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll play anywhere really, I don\u2019t mind,\u201d Fainga\u2019anuku told 1News<\/a> on Tuesday. \u201cAt this stage I might find myself at halfback next week.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all up to the coaches. I just do the job.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever they want I put my hand up for it.\u201d<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Crusaders forwards coach Dan Perrin is happy with how the experiment of playing the 12-cap All Blacks back in the forwards is going and praised Fainga\u2019anuku\u2019s versatility and ability to learn on the job.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s an impressive footballer and human isn\u2019t he?\u201d he said. \u201cKeeping it nice and simple at set piece time [is key]. I think he\u2019s picked it up awesomely.<\/p>\n \u201cHis 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\u2019s hungry for more.<\/p>\n Eddie Jones\u2019 verdict on Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku experiment as \u2018game has changed significantly\u2019 declaration made<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cHe 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\u2019s a fast learner and knows the pictures he\u2019s looking for.<\/p>\n \u2018He\u2019s all in on it\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever is in front of him for that week he\u2019s all in on it.\u201d<\/p>\n Hybrid players, who can cover the backline and forwards off the replacements bench, are rare in the game but teams have started to trial it more often and do so with some success.<\/p>\n Andre Esterhuizen has played in both the midfield and back-row for the Springboks while Ben Earl has filled in at centre for England.<\/p>\n Perrin revealed that Fainga\u2019anuku is not under pressure to focus on one position.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see him doing both and being really successful at it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Fainga\u2019anuku admits that playing amongst the forwards is not a simple exercise but he is working hard to make a success of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope I\u2019m doing a good job. It\u2019s not an easy job to slip in there at loose forward in a massive role \u2013 keeping in mind you don\u2019t want to let the big boys down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n