Rival coach hails Leicester Fainga’anuku’s skills as Crusaders star eyes All Blacks

Monday, 11 May 2026

Leicester Faingaanuku, pictured beating a Waratahs defender, has been red-hot for the Crusaders in either midfield or the back row as they seek to defend their Super Rugby Pacific title.

ANALYSIS: Super Rugby swingman Leicester Fainga’anuku must already have proved himself indispensable to the All Blacks - it’s just a matter of defining his role.

The multi-faceted Crusader quipped that he “might play with a number zero’’ on his back after starting at openside flanker, switching to centre and contributing to three tries, including two from kicks - one pre-meditated and the other instinctive - in Friday’s 36-20 win over the Blues.

Add in 15 tackles without a miss, two turnover penalties and 11 carries and it was no wonder Blues coach Vern Cotter admiringly admitted Fainga’anuku was “all over the show.

“… He adapted well; he’s a great player,” Cotter said.

Fainga’anuku will be one of the first names on incoming coach Dave Rennie’s team sheet, but what number will he wear?

He’s had just three starts at flanker, but has already matched, nay surpassed, two All Black No 7s.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney told him last week he was still a centre because “it just felt like he was falling into the role of a loosie, purely”.

So Penney was purring in his double-glazed coaches’ box high in the One NZ Stadium stand when Fainga’anaku dinked ahead with as deft a touch as the Crusaders’ last left-footed first receiver, a chap called Carter, for Jamie Hannah to score and then finessed a grubber from acting halfback for a Sevu Revu try in the second half.

But Fainga’anuku’s proudest moment came in the first quarter when he fed George Bower for his first Super Rugby try in the All Black prop’s 100th Crusaders game.

Leicester Fainga’anuku (C) shows his delight at putting George Bower over for the first Super Rugby try in his 100th game for the Crusaders.

The move, off a lineout, was hatched by set piece coach Dan Perrin. All week, Fainga’anuku had been telling Bower “make sure you be there for that ball”. He was “so stoked’’ when he Bower, a good friend, got over the line. “He’s someone who fully deserves it.”

But, sentiment aside, the man of the match award belonged squarely to Fainga’anuku.

The 26-year-old switches from electric to gas as slickly as any hybrid. He is second across Super Rugby Pacific for carries (137) and defenders beaten (51) and second equal for offloads (16 - one behind Reds winger Filipo Daugunu).

Those numbers are all the more remarkable given his platooning between the backline and the pack.

Jordie Barrett and Quinn Tupaea look to have a lock on the All Blacks midfield roles, and Caleb Clarke is ensconced on the left wing. So where will Fainga’anuku earn his 13th cap?

Some may say it would be a bold move to hand Fainga’anuku the black No 7 jumper at this stage.

But Ardie Savea could switch to No 8.

Radical calls have been made in the past. Jonah Lomu - then 19 - had had just two provincial friendlies on the wing for Counties Manukau before being handed the All Blacks No 11 jumper for 1994 tests against France.

Fainga’anuku is keeping his feet on the ground - except when he is stepping past defenders.

He even admitted on Friday that he wouldn’t say he was “comfortable” in the back row, but it is a challenge he enjoys.

Fainga’anuku credits Perrin, defence coach and former fetcher Matt Todd and his teammates for preparing him each week “as well as they can to get me comfortable in that role.”

He’s clearly a quick loose forward learner and the ability to play centre or on the left wing is embedded in his rugby DNA.

His versatility makes him a clearcut candidate for the bench, where his presence would allow the All Blacks to use a six-forwards/two backs split, a handy option for the test series against the Springboks.

But why not use that impact from the outset? The next six weeks will tell.

First, Fainga’anuku has a bye week off to rest a body that’s being conditioned for the pack.

Kyle Preston dives to score a second-half try off the bench for the Crusaders against the Blues.

Whether he starts a fourth straight game on the flank against the Chiefs on Friday week might depend on how centre Dallas McLeod bounces back from his head knock. The Crusaders already have one All Black midfielder out, in hamstrung centre Braydon Ennor.

It would make sense to start Fainga’anuku at No 13 if McLeod is missing, but it doesn’t really matter where he plays, he’ll be a turnover threat and the full tool box of skills will be displayed.

After three losses in the previous four games, Penney was pleased to bank the win “for the deepness of the confidence and the belief” for the competition run-in.

The Crusaders’ lineout has gone from one of the wobblier ones in early rounds to second-best with 89.5% completions, narrowly behind the Chiefs’ at 90.2%.

Friday’s statement win was impressive all round. Cotter felt the Crusaders “were almost training against us at times”, a challenge made tougher after losing All Black back rower Dalton Papali’i to a fractured jaw.

The five points all but clinches the Crusaders’ playoffs place. They were fourth after round 13, and will still be in the top-six after their bye.

With ace All Blacks fullback Will Jordan due back, Fainga’anuku in the form of his life and test captain Scott Barrett potentially tracking for the playoffs, only a brave bettor would wager against the Crusaders having a shot at a 16th Super title.