Scott Robertson didn’t hide his frustration when winger Leicester Fainga’anuku decided to head offshore at the end of last year.
However, the then incoming All Blacks coach was always confident Fainga’anuku wouldn’t stay in Europe beyond his 19-month deal with French club Toulon, he was right.
The 24-year-old’s return to New Zealand is set to be confirmed as soon as tomorrow.
It means Robertson will have the ability to select him for the 2025 Rugby Championship, but the Crusaders will have to wait until 2026, their first season in Christchurch’s new multi-use arena, to get their hands on him.
While there was always a risk Fainga’anuku would fall in love with France and be lost to New Zealand for good, his decision to return should not come as a huge surprise.
Robertson made it clear he wanted Fainga’anuku, who played 55 games for the Crusaders under him between 2019-2023, to stick around, dangling an All Blacks carrot in front of the Nelson College old boy.
Fainga’anuku had got itchy feet. His desire to test himself overseas and get out of his comfort zone won out.
However, a return ahead of the 2027 World Cup was something he was open to, and Robertson, during his final year with the Crusaders before he took over the All Blacks, on a number of occasions indicated he was confident Fainga’anuku wouldn’t be gone long.
Robertson, who watched him run in 30 tries under his watch at the Crusaders, playing mostly as a power wing, but also occasionally at centre, where Toulon have mostly used him.
Meanwhile, the All Blacks host the Wallabies at the Cake Tin at 7.05pm Saturday.
[Source: Stuff.co]
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