Crusaders keen to make Aumua centre of attention
This wasn’t what Levi Aumua had on his mind when he signed a two-year deal with the Crusaders.
Four straight losses to start Super Rugby Pacific is one thing. Then there is his puzzling under-utilisation in an attack that needs all the punch it can get.
This is the 113kg game-wrecking midfielder who gave defences fits the past two years playing for Moana Pasifika, bumping off and trampling defenders with his immense strength.
But the numbers don’t lie. They simply confirm what anyone who has watched the Crusaders this year will have suspected – he hasn’t featured nearly enough.
Four games, 16 runs, 112 metres, six defenders beaten. And almost half of those metres were against the Waratahs in round two.
Aumua’s shift south coincided with the deaprture to France of blockbusting utility back Leicester Fainga’anuku, and it was meant to soften the blow of one of the most devastating ball carriers in the country leaving at the peak of his powers.
However, for starters, the Crusaders haven’t utilised Aumua’s strength when they’ve dialled up set-piece strike moves, as they so often did with Fainga’anuku in recent years.
“We have very similar philosophies with Levi, and when he’s got the ball in his hands, as you can see, he punches holes big time,“head coach Rob Penney said.
“He is a very skilful man. For a power athlete, he’s got a lot of subtleness to his game as well. We want to see all of that.
“It’s not only him really digging deep and applying himself, but also those guys around him allowing him to flourish and show the skills he’s got.’’
Aumua registered just two carries against the Chiefs in round one, three against the Fijian Drua, and two during last week’s loss to the Hurricanes in Christchurch, where his last act before he was replaced was a barnstorming run inside the visitors’ 22.
The previous week, it was an Aumua carry inside the Drua 22 that led directly to wing Sevu Reece diving over.
As Penney said, when the 29-year-old has carried he has been lethal — he’s just not getting enough touches.
“I think he is [looking for work]. Just the opportunities aren’t there because – I’ve used the words a few times – we’re a bit clunky. Sometimes when that happens everyone on the attacking side of the ball, their game gets a bit stuttery because the continuity and flow doesn’t come.
“There’s plenty of effort going in off the ball to work into positions. We’ve just collectively got to get our harmony going so those opportunities can be embraced.”
It’s not the only puzzling aspect of the Crusaders’ game at a time they’ve already lost as many games as they did last season.
Crusaders coach Rob Penney on Levi Aumua
“It’s not only him really digging deep and applying himself, but also those guys around him allowing him to flourish and show the skills he’s got.’’
What: Super Rugby Pacific, Blues v Crusaders
Where, when: Eden Park, Auckland; today, 7.05pm
Coverage: Sky Sport 1
Blues: Zarn Sullivan, Mark Tele’a, AJ Lam, Bryce Heem, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papali’i, Akira Ioane, Laghlan McWhannell, Patrick Tuipuloto (capt), Angus Ta’avao, Ricky Riccitelli, Ofa Tu’ungafasi. Reserves: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a, Marcel Renata, Josh Beehre, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Harry Plummer, Cole Forbes.
Crusaders: Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua, David Havili (capt), Macca Springer, Riley Hohepa, Willi Heinz, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Dominic Gardiner, Jamie Hannah, Quinten Strange, Fletcher Newell, George Bell, George Bower. Reserves: Ioane Moananu, Joe Moody, Seb Calder, Tahlor Cahill, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, Ryan Crotty, Dallas McLeod.
They’ve barely rolled up their sleeves and launched a rolling maul, renowned as their go-to weapon for an age. And on the rare occasion they have, it has not gained traction.
Penney accepted the Crusaders’ maul had been “disappointing” and was an area they needed to improve, but warned that a fix might not come quickly in the aftermath of lock Sam Whitelock’s departure, and other key players being sidelined.
"Mauling is one of those activities where old man’s strength becomes a really crucial part of it. And when I refer to oldman strength, it used to be called farmer’s strength, coming off throwing bales around, lifting sheep, all that kind of thing.
“All those boys that have come through and developed and a culmination of the Crusaders’ maul has been on the back of a lot of experience, a lot of strength, a lot of maturity. Some of those things we have to reteach, we’re relearning.’’