James Parsons queries Leicester Fainga’anuku’s role at No.7

Former All Black James Parsons isn’t fully convinced with Leicester Fainga’anuku’s No.7 selection for the Crusaders, despite impressing in the opening game at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

But it was the exact position in the back-row that Parsons questions, describing the specific needs defensively for each of the loose forward positions, and why a different number on the back could be more effective.

The former Blues hooker says he was surprised Rob Penney and the Crusaders coaching staff didn’t put him at No.6, due to what that role entails at scrum time.

“I’m convinced he could still do a similar role in a 13 or an 11 jersey, in and around that pod work he does and his ability to sort of move around those options off short line outs,” Parsons said on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, which can be found on RugbyPass TV.

“Because I think when you look at the intricacies, like I was surprised they didn’t put him on the blind side at scrum time, like I know he’s open side, but I thought they probably could have moved Christian Lio-Willie or Dom Gardner there defensively.

“A couple of times the Waratahs got on the edge really easily, because he was sort of caught scrummaging and didn’t get off so it doesn’t free the defence to get to that edge.”

Although Parsons questions the position of the 12-Test All Black, he was impressed with the way Fainga’anuku went about his work in the forward pack, providing some more stats around his carries.

“I felt like he played amazing. There’s no question he did the job within the game plan that he was given. You know what he can do defensively, you know he’s good in around that breakdown.

Player Carries

1

Hunter Paisami

16

2

Harry Wilson

16

3

Sam Darry

12

“But yeah, look, it’ll be interesting to see how it goes in a derby and he had 23 touches and 19 carries and then when you look at McReight, he had 15 touches and carried eight times. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 22 touches, he carried eight times.

“So I think if he could get that balance, because teams will find it a little bit predictable, and they’ll load up on them defensively. So I think if they have the ability to evolve that role of him playing more of that ball playing role, even off set piece, man, I think he could be more destructive in that role.

“I just think they could give him a hand and maybe put him at blindside flanker and just help him out a little bit, and the Crusaders.”