The 'absolute machine' All Black making an ex-Scotland flyer nervous

There’s a new face in the All Blacks midfield, and he’s bringing a physical flavour that hasn’t gone unnoticed in Scotland ahead of this weekend’s historic bout.

News that Jordie Barrett will miss the remainder of the All Blacks’ season this week was a blow softened by the performance of his replacement, Leicester Fainga’anuku, against Ireland in Chicago last week.

While Barrett’s triple-threat attack and game IQ have established him as New Zealand’s premier inside centre over recent years, the explosive running game of Fainga’anuku has been a consistent game-breaker over the last two Test matches, earning him more minutes on the park.

The Crusaders’ star’s return to New Zealand has been a rampaging one after two seasons in the Top 14 with Toulon. Fainga’anuku got his first taste of midfield Test rugby in the Ireland showdown, coming in at centre when Barrett went down clutching his leg. This week, he has been named for his first Test start in the No.13 jersey.

The 26-year-old will partner Quinn Tupaea in the All Blacks midfield, with the selection dilemma of an injured star seemingly resolving itself as quickly as it emerged.

While it took some time for Fainga’anuku to get the nod in the matchday 23 upon his return to the All Blacks camp, the immediacy of his reasserting himself in the Test arena came as no surprise to Kiwi-born former Scotland flyer Sean Maitland.

The 48-Test Scotland winger has shared the same position as Fainga’anuku at the Crusaders, and made the effort to see the Nelson College product in person while he was competing in Europe with the French heavyweights.

“I watched the Ireland game and I saw big Leicester come on, he’s an absolute machine,” Maitland told Sport Nation. “I flew out to watch Sarries play Toulon last year in the Champions Cup, and I watched the big man in action first-hand. He’s good, isn’t he? He’s bloody good.

“He can run through you, he can run around you, he can step you, and he’s obviously confident. That’s the scary thing, I think this All Blacks team are confident.

“They’ve obviously had the Rugby Championship, they’ve done pretty well there. They’ve banged Ireland over in Chicago. The thing that worries me is Scotland; they haven’t played. How many players who played last week are playing this weekend? Only one or two?

“So, I’m nervous. The All Blacks are confident; they’ve played a lot of rugby together, and now they’re bringing in Leicester, who’s an absolute machine. It’s scary. I’m nervous, I’m not going to lie.”