Faumuina excited by challenge of Lions
Many astute rugby minds will tell you teams are built around first five-eighths and tighthead props.
It may come as a surprise but those who don the No 3 jersey are among the highest paid players in world rugby.
When former All Blacks prop John Afoa joined Gloucester in 2014 on a four-year deal he pulled in NZ$1 million a season, at the time making him the third-highest earner in Europe behind playmakers Jonny Wilkinson and Jonathan Sexton.
After leaving the All Blacks following the 2007 World Cup, Carl Hayman was mooted to be banking $68,000 per month French club Toulon.
Closer to home, the All Blacks have almost exclusively operated with the Owen Franks-Charlie Faumuina one-two punch for the best part of the last five years.
Faumuina’s role in all this from a New Zealand perspective is coming to a close, having signed to join Toulouse at the end of the season.
In 34 of his 46 tests for the All Blacks Faumuina’s task has been to come off the bench and replace Franks. The 30-year-old’s deft ball skills and deceivingly quick feet close to contact offer a point of difference, especially against tiring defences.
Someone else at will glamour soon be needed to step into his shoes, and tighthead is one area New Zealand rugby is not overly blessed with test ready depth.
Nepo Laulala played four tests off the bench in 2015 before suffering several serious knee injuries. After sitting out the Chiefs’ three-week trip abroad the 25-year-old returned to their starting lineup in Hamilton last night, and appeals as long-term successor to Faumuina.
‘‘All the guys that are starting for the Super Rugby teams – Nepo barring his injuries, [Hurricanes] [Jeff] Toomaga-Allen and Ofa [Tu’ungafasi]. It’s just being a tighthead you need time and experience to get more confidence,’’ Faumuina said.
Before departing offshore the All Blacks will call upon Faumuina in June for British and Irish Lions, a team under Warren Gatland that will target set piece dominance.
‘‘They’ve named a strong squad after a good quality Six Nations. For it to happen every 12 years and me to potentially be a part of it in my last year with the Blues and in New Zealand, I’d be pretty excited for that. The Ireland props have been playing really well this year and the English boys, too, but it’s a pretty solid forward pack.
‘‘With four teams coming together they’ll probably try a few new things. They’ve got some big boys in that team so whatever style they play it’ll be tough.’’
In a Blues team missing Jerome Kaino for at least the next month, Faumuina will be leaned on even more to provide a steadying influence. The arrival of his third child seemed to spark something in the big man, coming at the same time as his performance of the season three weeks ago against the Highlanders in Dunedin.
If the Blues are to somehow force their way into playoff contention he will need to draw on that inspiration again in Canberra today. ‘‘It was probably because it was an away game so I got a bit more sleep than I have been. Three under five, so it’s tough work but I’m enjoying it. It’s good to be back at training away from it all sometimes.’’