Fainga’anuku could pose triple threat in Nations Championship
New Zealand coach Dave Rennie has called up winger-turned-flanker Leicester Fainga’anuku for the European leg of their Nations Championship campaign which begins with a match against Scotland at Murrayfield on November 7.
The 12-times capped Fainga'anuku broke his leg towards the end of the Canterbury Crusaders’ Super Rugby campaign and is yet to play for the All Blacks under head coach Rennie.
Usually a wing or centre, he was deployed as back-row forward during Super Rugby and flourished in the new role.
New Zealand will also play Wales and England next month and one other match during ‘Finals Weekend’ and Rennie believes the versatile Fainga'anuku offers a triple threat.
“It gives you massive flexibility,” Rennie said. “You can name a 5-3 bench but it’s generally a 6-2 (split) and he can definitely make (an) impact in all of those spots.”
All three Barrett brothers are included
Fainga'anuku missed the summer leg of the Nations Championship and the four-Test series against South Africa after sustaining a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain playing for the Canterbury Crusaders.
He then suffered a concussion playing provincial rugby for Tasman may not be fully fit for the game against Scotland in Edinburgh a week on Saturday.
The All Blacks have had a number of injury issues and are without skipper Ardie Savea who has a shoulder problem, meaning Codie Taylor is skipper for the tour.
But Rennie has been able to include all three Barrett brothers in his squad and there is also a return for stand-off Richie Mo’unga who missed both Bledisloe Cup wins over Australia with a calf injury.
Rennie, the former Glasgow Warriors head coach, was pleased with his team’s form against the Wallabies after a gruelling Springboks campaign which was lost 3-1. The All Blacks beat Australia 50-19 at Eden Park in the opening Bledisloe Test, then won 43-21 in Sydney a week later. The aim now is to bring that form to Europe.
“Playing Scotland, Wales and England on consecutive weekends is a tough assignment,” said Rennie. “These are all proud rugby nations with passionate home crowds.
“We will embrace the challenge and the opportunity to build on our Bledisloe Cup performances.”
The All Blacks Nations Championship Northern Tour squad:
(age, Super Rugby club, province, Test caps), * denotes new Test cap
Forwards (20)
Hookers
Codie Taylor (35 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 114) (Captain)
Asafo Aumua (29 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 27)
George Bell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 4)
Props
Ethan de Groot (28 / Highlanders / Southland / 46)
George Bower (34 / Crusaders / Otago / 31)
Xavier Numia (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6)
Fletcher Newell (26 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 43)
Pasilio Tosi (28 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 19)
Saula Ma'u* (26 / Highlanders / Otago / 0)
Second row
Scott Barrett (32 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 91)
Josh Lord (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 18)
Fabian Holland (24 / Highlanders / Otago / 16)
Jamie Hannah (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)
Tupou Vaa'i (26 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 53)
Back row
Anton Segner (25 / Blues / Auckland / 3)
Leicester Fainga'anuku (27 / Crusaders / Tasman / 12)
Ethan Blackadder (31 / Crusaders / Tasman / 15)
Christian Lio-Willie (28 / Crusaders / Otago / 3)
Peter Lakai (23 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 16)
Wallace Sititi (24 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 25)
Backs (16)
Scrum-halves
Cam Roigard (25 / Hurricanes / Counties Manukau / 26)
Kyle Preston (27 / Crusaders / Wellington / 6)
Cortez Ratima (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 25)
Stand-offs
Richie Mo'unga (32 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 57)
Damian McKenzie (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 83)
Josh Jacomb* (25 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 0)
Midfielders
Jordie Barrett (29 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 86)
Quinn Tupaea (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 31)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (28 / Highlanders / Tasman / 3)
Anton Lienert-Brown (31 / Chiefs / Waikato / 94)
Outside backs
Rieko Ioane (29 / Blues / Auckland / 91)
Chay Fihaki (25 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 1)
Fehi Fineanganofo (24 / Hurricanes / Bay of Plenty / 1)
Josh Moorby (28 / Hurricanes / Waikato / 7)
Will Jordan (28 / Crusaders / Tasman / 63)
Beauden Barrett (35 / Blues / Taranaki / 147)
Unavailable due to injury: Samisoni Taukei'aho (calf); Shannon Frizell (knee); Tyrel Lomax (neck); Leroy Carter (ankle); Ruben Love (ankle); Ardie Savea (shoulder); Luke Jacobson (elbow); Caleb Clarke (shoulder); Ollie Norris (knee). Unavailable for personal reasons: Simon Parker.
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