Rob Penney on how Leicester Fainga'anuku has lifted the Crusaders

Friday night’s statement 69-26 victory by the Crusaders over the Fijian Drua was a fitting way to go out at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch, a place where the Crusaders won 100 out of their 122 fixtures at the stadium.

Crusaders head coach Rob Penney quickly shifted the discussion post-match towards All Black centurion Codie Taylor, who scored four tries on his 150th appearance for the Christchurch-based franchise.

Taylor was superb all around the paddock in his milestone game, but for Penney, he was stoked with the way some of his backs performed against the Drua, helping the Crusaders run in eleven tries on the night.

Fainga’anuku crossed early on in the game in the eleventh minute, before playing a crucial part in a number of other tries throughout the emotional evening, most notably with a pinpoint cross-field kick to Sevu Reece in the corner.

Penney, who spoke to the media in Christchurch post-match, described how important the versatile and valuable outside-back is to the organisation.

“Yeah, real good. Like, he’s such a tiger, and he loves it. Like, it’s not as if we’re putting him in there [in the loose-forwards] against his will,” Penney said.

“He’s very much part of that discussion. So it’s awesome,  he’s literally a hybrid and he was always part of the conversation.

“That’s probably a superpower as his ability to be physical and dominate with subtle touches on the edges of that. He’s a great acquisition for us.”

With Crusaders captain David Havili out with injury, All Blacks fullback Will Jordan has stepped into the main leadership role under Penney, something that the head coach says is “highly evident” in the way that the team are playing.

“Special man, special player. What people don’t see behind the scenes is his maturity as a leader, and that’s highly evident in our group.

“You know, David Havili is a big loss as a primary leader, I guess, in the group, and Will has just stepped in there, and has really just grown an arm and a leg around the group.

“The boys love him and love playing for him. So it’s great credit to Will that he didn’t score tonight, but as you said, he probably set three or four up.”