Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Why Leicester Fainga'anuku could be the man to replace Ngani Laumape in the All Blacks midfield

(Photo by Masanori Udagawa/Getty Images)

Ngani Laumape’s defection to Top 14 side Stade Francais has been some time coming as the All Blacks midfielder has been the subject of much speculation regarding a move to Paris in recent weeks.

ADVERTISEMENT

That deal was confirmed on Monday when it was announced the 15-test All Black would leave the Hurricanes to move to the French capital at the end of the upcoming Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition.

The 28-year-old’s imminent departure robs New Zealand of the country’s best ball-carrying midfield option as the former NRL wing has made a name for himself as a devastating runner with ball in hand since coming to rugby union in 2016.

Video Spacer

The Crusaders do it again, David Havili as an All Blacks 12, and who missed the Lions squad? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

The Crusaders do it again, David Havili as an All Blacks 12, and who missed the Lions squad? | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

Few, if any, players across the country have the same ability to crash over the advantage line with such powerful impact as Laumape, meaning All Black head coach Ian Foster has a job on his hands to unearth a suitable replacement in the national side.

The rise of Crusaders starlet Leicester Fainga’anuku might make that task somewhat easier, though.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a coming-of-age campaign with the Crusaders this year, starting regularly both on the wing and at centre in the absence of injured All Blacks pair Jack Goodhue and George Bridge.

Standing at 1.88m and 109kg, Fainga’anuku is a real power-based athlete and has showed his physical prowess at various levels of the game in New Zealand, whether it be as a schoolboy, a national U20 representative, in the NPC or in Super Rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

It wasn’t until this season, however, that the Tongan-born utility began to really flourish for the Crusaders, and his performance for the Christchurch-based franchise in last weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final illustrated his value as a ball-carrying centre.

Time and time again, Fainga’anuku asked questions of the Chiefs’ defence as he made himself a handful as a crash ball runner, a role that enabled the Crusaders to constantly sneak over the gain line and get his side on the front foot while on attack.

Those traits are not too dissimilar to that of Laumape, and it’s for that reason that Fainga’anuku could stand as a like-for-like replacement for the French-bound powerhouse within the All Blacks squad from this year onwards.

That was the sentiment suggested by former All Blacks and Blues hooker James Parsons, who spoke in awe of Fainga’anuku on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

ADVERTISEMENT

Parsons said Fainga’anuku’s threat as a ball carrier was a key reason why Crusaders fullback Will Jordan scored in the 16th minute of last Saturday’s final.

He noted that although the try was set up by a well-executed grubber kick by second-five David Havili, it was the power running of Fainga’anuku that put the Chiefs on the back foot defensively to thrust Havili and Jordan into a good attacking position.

“Ngani’s probably the best at it [power running], but the other night, when he [Fainga’anuku] hits it, it’s tough to stop,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.

“If you look at the try that creates it, it’s that big strong carry and a good ball out the back, quick hands from Richie [Mo’unga] and a grubber and a good chase.

“It all starts from getting in behind from that good, strong carry from Leicester, so you’re right, it’s a big factor. Even if you know it’s coming, it’s still hard to stop.”

Parsons added that Fainga’anuku’s quality isn’t restricted to just the attacking side of his game, as he has shown on occasion that he is capable of stopping big men, like himself, in their tracks when needed.

“The other aspect of it is he’s pretty good at stopping players that are good at getting gain line. Defensively, he’s not afraid of putting his body in front and driving some other big boys backwards.”

Furthermore, Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that Fainga’anuku may also pique the All Blacks’ interest due to his ability to cover multiple positions, a valued trait within the national squad.

“I think for the All Blacks, we talk around the selection issues, and with Leicester, he’s a winger, but being able to play this kind of footy as a centre, it puts him in that kind of utility role where he could be selected because he can play both positions as well.”

With Goodhue out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury, Fainga’anuku is expected to play a vital role in the remainder of the Crusaders’ season, which continues this Saturday when they host the Brumbies in Christchurch.

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

1 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search