OPINION: For all the praise Scott Robertson rightfully receives in charge of the Crusaders, his task is an unenviable one.
The calibre of players he has in his squad is something some Super Rugby sides could only dream of, offering selection headaches in several key positions - none more so than midfield, where David Havili, Braydon Ennor and Leicester Fainga'anuku have all been used so far, and that’s before Jack Goodhue has made his return from injury.
In last Saturday's comprehensive win over the Chiefs, the pairing of Havili and Fainga'anuku was a revelation.
Havili's composure and game management at second-five, with the power and pace of Fainga'anuku at centre saw the Crusaders repeatedly break the Chiefs defence open.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster will no doubt have watched closely.
Fainga'anuku was terribly unlucky to miss out on an All Blacks call-up last season, but Foster can't look past him for too much longer, if he continues the compelling case he’s made through the first few rounds of Super Rugby Pacific.
Foster hasn't been able to settle on his best pairing in the midfield - an area Steve Hansen also struggled with in the final years of his tenure. And with the World Cup creeping closer, this season shapes as a crucial one to finally settle on one.
Fainga'anuku deserves to be in the conversation.
With Ngani Laumape clearly not the answer, Fainga'anuku could be just what they need.
The All Blacks struggled to get over the gain line on first phase last season, and with more and more teams employing rush defence against them, Fainga'anuku’s ability to break open opposition defences could be the missing ticket.
He can comfortably cover wing as well, which should make him an even more attractive option for Foster, and the upcoming international season seems the ideal time to test out whether Fainga'anuku can hold his own at test level.
An Anton Lienert-Brown/Leicester Fainga'anuku midfield pairing gives you a similar game style to what the Crusaders are flourishing under with Fainga'anuku and Havili, and while Havili was predominantly used in the midfield for the All Blacks last year, his ability to cover almost every position in the backline makes him a handy bench option for Foster.
This year shapes as a vital season for Foster and the All Blacks, after an underwhelming 2021 and with a World Cup just around the corner.
With several key positions clearly not yet settled, the door is open for a player like Leicester Fainga'anuku to walk through.
Ollie Ritchie is Newshub's rugby reporter. Join us from 7pm Friday for live updates of the Crusaders v Highlanders Super Rugby Pacific clash
