Leicester Fainga’anuku has already spent years bulldozing defenders as a winger and centre.
But his latest reinvention may prove the most fascinating chapter of his career yet.
The Crusaders back has stunned Super Rugby Pacific by moving into the back row, with the 26-year-old now featuring at openside flanker in one of the competition’s boldest tactical experiments.
Three weeks into the switch, New Zealand head coach Dave Rennie has offered a clear insight.
While he stopped short of guaranteeing international selection, he made it clear Fainga’anuku has forced his way firmly into the conversation.
“Time will tell” on All Blacks role
Speaking in Auckland, Rennie praised Fainga’anuku’s physicality and versatility. However, Rennie admits there is still refinement needed if he is to become a genuine Test-level No.7.
“He’s gone well,” Rennie said.
“I’ve been really impressed with him from a work ethic point of view. He’s carrying well, and he’s getting a lot of ball and so on.
“There’s a lot to refine there in his game as a seven, but his ability to play down the edge as a winger or as a seven gives you genuine versatility in your squad.”
That versatility appears central to Rennie’s thinking, ahead of naming his All Blacks squad for the Nations Championship fixtures.
The ability to cover multiple positions could be valuable if New Zealand opt for a 6-2 bench split.
“It’s been a point of discussion,” Rennie admitted.
A move built for the modern game
Fainga’anuku’s switch has already earned praise from Crusaders head coach Rob Penney.
He hailed the former midfield powerhouse after his first outing at flanker during Super Round.
“There’s a lot of superlatives,” Penney said previously.
“He did everything we asked of him, plus more.”
The move reflects rugby’s growing obsession with hybrid athletes capable of filling multiple roles across the park.
At 6ft 2in and more than 105kg, Fainga’anuku already possessed the carrying power and contact ability associated with elite forwards. The challenge now lies in mastering the breakdown, defensive positioning and work-rate expected from international flankers.
Fainga’anuku himself framed the transition as part of rugby’s tactical evolution, suggesting New Zealand rugby must continue pushing boundaries if it wants to stay ahead of the global game.
Selection race heating up
Rennie also confirmed that former World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will return as an All Blacks selector, adding further experience to the decision-making process ahead of a crucial international window.
While several players have already cemented their places in Rennie’s plans, the new head coach stressed that the closing weeks of Super Rugby Pacific and the playoffs will determine the fate of others.
“This is where you want to see it, the guys who can function under pressure,” he said.
Despite speculation around sweeping changes, Rennie suggested continuity remains important after several seasons of experimentation under previous regimes.
“There have been a lot of players used over the last few years,” he said.
“I think the game we want to play, the players are here, in the country. The players will decide their fate.”
For Fainga’anuku, the timing of his positional switch could hardly be more significant.
The All Blacks have no shortage of options in midfield and on the wing, but very few players offer the kind of multi-positional flexibility modern Test rugby increasingly demands.
Whether he becomes a genuine international flanker remains uncertain. But after only a few weeks in the role, he has already ensured one thing — New Zealand selectors can no longer ignore him.
