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Watch: Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga'anuku produces early contender for try of the year

(Photo / Sky Sport)

Rising Crusaders star Leicester Fainga’anuku has produced an early contender for the try of the year with an acrobatic effort in his side’s Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against the Chiefs in Christchurch.

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After being awarded a scrum near the visitors’ 10 metre mark about five metres from the right-hand sideline, the Crusaders spun the ball to the left, with halfback Mitchell Drummond finding midfielder David Havili who was standing at first receiver.

After throwing a dummy to catch the Chiefs’ defensive line off-guard, he 26-year-old sped through gap created through a misread by centre Sean Wainui.

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Left wing Etene Nanai-Seturo fell victim to Havili’s offload, which proved costly as the three-test All Black burst downfield into open space.

With Chiefs playmakers Bryn Gatland and Damian McKenzie closing in on him, Havili threw a long pass out wide to the supporting Fainga’anuku on the touchline on the 22 metre mark.

The youngster had a clean run to the line, but McKenzie put on the afterburners to narrow in on Fainga’anuku as he closed in on the left-hand corner.

With McKenzie breathing down his neck, Fainga’anuku launched himself towards the line in a gravity-defying effort before colliding with the Chiefs fullback in midair.

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The impact of McKenzie’s covering tackle left Fainga’anuku’s legs sprawled out and the moment looked to have forced one of his boots into touch.

However, the Crusaders powerhouse managed to plant the ball on the ground just shy of the sideline in-goal to cap off a breathtaking try.

Multiple replays were used to check if Fainga’anuku’s foot had indeed strayed out of play, but TMO Brendon Pickerill saw no clear evidence to overturn the on-field decision.

The try cut the Chiefs’ lead in half to 10-5, and the Crusaders have gone on to take a 11-10 lead into half-time.

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J
JW 44 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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