When Anton Segner arrived in New Zealand, Leicester Fainga'anuku was his first friend.
Now, nearly a decade later, he is his latest obstacle.
On Saturday, Fainga'anuku’s Crusaders stand between Segner’s Blues and a Super Rugby semifinal.
It’s a playoff match-up neither could have predicted when they first met at Nelson College.
15-year-old Segner was a rugby-obsessed German exchange student, trying to find his feet at the boarding house while Fainga'anuku was Nelson College's first XV captain, earmarked for big things as an outside back.
Fainga’anuku took him under his wing, pulling strings to get Year 11 Segner into digs above his grade.
A friendship was forged in the halls of residence, and on the rugby field, that still holds strong.
Now their paths have fully converged as on Saturday, both will wear the No 7 jersey.
Battling each other for openside supremacy seemed implausible at the start of the season.
However, Segner switched from blindside when Dalton Papali’i’s season ended early.
Then, 11 rounds in, Fainga’anuku was boldly shifted from the outside backs, with tactical impact in the loose, to a baptism of fire as a starting seven.
Few saw 26-year-old Fainga’anuku’s shift coming, except Segner.
Segner says back in 2017 was the first time they spoke about Fainga’anuku playing in the loose forwards.
Even as a schoolboy fullback, Fainga'anuku had a fascination with the breakdown.
Segner says that was one of the challenges they had between the two of them: who could get more turnovers at Nelson College.
Fainga'anuku is renowned for his powerful ball-carrying, where he has used almost twice as much as any other seven in New Zealand.
It’s something Segner has worked hard to emulate this year, wanting to be more dominant in contact.
To keep their title hopes alive, the Blues need Anton Segner to direct that extra size and confidence at his old mate on Saturday.
Nearly a decade after Leicester Fainga'anuku helped a young German lad settle into boarding school, he’ll be less generous come kick-off at Te Kaha.
Their friendship can resume after the final whistle.
The Crusaders host the Blues at 4.35pm Saturday.
In other games, the Hurricanes play the Brumbies at 7.05pm Friday while the Chiefs will meet the Reds at 7.05pm Saturday.
Source: stuff.co.nz
