Source : ABC NEWS
One match is hardly a recommended sample size, but the risk the Crusaders took by starting Leicester Fainga’anuku at openside flanker paid off during Super Round.
Fainga’anuku, a 12-Test All Black more accustomed to playing in the centres or wing, was impressive in the Crusaders’ 35-20 win over the NSW Waratahs in front of a sellout crowd at Christchurch’s new stadium on Friday night.
The Crusaders deserve praise for “thinking outside the square”, although it is not the first time a back has switched to the loose forwards at the professional level, with the Springboks’ André Esterhuizen a prominent example.
The concept of “hybrid” players has been discussed locally, with Wallabies legend Matt Burke recently suggesting Reds winger Filipo Daugunu had the ability to play openside flanker.
Lateral thinking needs to be encouraged in Australian rugby, as innovative ideas have previously been successful.
A noted admirer of Edward de Bono’s creative thinking strategies, former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen orchestrated Stephen Larkham’s switch from fullback/utility to fly half in 1998.
The following year, Larkham played a starring role in Australia’s Rugby World Cup victory.
Stephen Larkham became one of the best fly halves in world rugby. (Getty Images/ALLSPORT: Darren England)
Given the Wallabies’ current predicament in the fly half position, would adopting a similar approach work?
Maybe. Or maybe not.
But examining Australia’s stocks of fullbacks, centres and scrum halves could be a worthwhile exercise to find the Wallabies’ next great 10.
Taking a punt on positional switches has worked in rugby league.
Cameron Munster and Nicho Hynes are two shining examples of players in the contemporary game who started the NRL careers as fullbacks before successfully shifting to the halves.
McReight’s decision to gamble
Queensland Reds captain Fraser McReight should not blame himself for his side’s agonising 36-33 super-point loss to the Blues on Saturday night.
During extra time, McReight was penalised for entering a ruck from an offside position, allowing Beauden Barrett the opportunity to kick the winning goal from the tee.
McReight’s indiscretion did provide the Blues with the decisive moment to ice their win.
Fraser McReight chanced his arm at the breakdown against the Blues. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
But the sixth-placed Reds had not helped their cause earlier in the match by twice putting themselves in a position — at 21-7 and 33-21 down — where they needed to chase the Blues on the scoreboard.
The decision to attack a defensive ruck is consistent with McReight’s role as a jackal-style openside flanker.
They are gamblers who play on the edge at the risk of being penalised at the breakdown, yet their value to teams cannot be overstated.
McReight got pinged on this occasion, but his skill set has helped the Reds win many times.
Brumbies in a hole
Back in round two, there was every reason to believe the ACT Brumbies were a title contender when they disposed of the Crusaders 50-24 at their former home ground in Christchurch.
Teams do not defeat the Crusaders when playing across the Tasman in such a manner purely by chance.
But an inconsistent record at Canberra Stadium and a 45-12 thrashing dished out by the Hurricanes in Super Round have cast doubt on their credentials to lift the trophy at the end of the season.
Beating the Hurricanes in New Zealand was always going to be a tall order, but the Brumbies did not fire a shot on Saturday.
They were pushed around by the second-placed Hurricanes, who scored seven tries to two.
The Brumbies were outclassed by the Hurricanes in Super Round. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
With a 5-5 (win-loss) return, the Brumbies are fifth on the standings after 11 rounds, so their finals hopes are not in ruins.
But do they give their supporters confidence they can reach the play-offs with only four matches left in their regular-season campaign?
They play the Reds and Waratahs on the road, having lost to both teams in Canberra this season.
And with their 2-3 record at home, they cannot be considered overwhelming favourites to beat the Western Force and Moana Pasifika in their final two matches in the national capital.
Zac Lomax’s encouraging performances have seemingly boosted the Force’s morale, while Moana are showing no lack of fight in what is likely to be their last season in Super Rugby Pacific.
It is a massive month coming up for the Brumbies to prove they are worthy of playing finals.
Tahs fall but show effort
Prior to Super Round, the Waratahs’ most-recent visit to New Zealand was not fondly remembered.
They were stood over by the Chiefs, who posted a dominant 42-14 victory in Hamilton almost a month ago.
The Waratahs could not get past the Crusaders in Christchurch. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
The Waratahs showed greater effort against the Crusaders on Friday night, although they let themselves down with poor discipline and turnovers.
Two players received yellow cards and they were on the end of a 13-7 penalty count.
Twice — in the space of five minutes in the second half — they wasted vital field position when they lost lineouts on their throw inside the Crusaders’ 22.
The Waratahs only had 42 per cent of possession for the match, so they could ill-afford squandering ideal attacking platforms.
The visitors did produce some highlights though, such as Sid Harvey’s first-half try after Jack Debreczeni found the young winger with a pinpoint cross-field kick.
Debreczeni’s quick thinking exploited the condensed Crusaders’ defensive line to help establish a short-lived 13-7 lead.
Using the Chiefs’ loss as a measuring stick, it was an improved performance from the Waratahs, who remain an outside chance of making the finals in eighth place on the standings.
