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Fruean making his mark in midfield

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:00

Robbie Fruean may have been the International Rugby Board's (IRB) U19 player of the year in 2007, but he joined the Crusaders this year having played only one Super 14 game for the Hurricanes last year.

After leading New Zealand to the IRB's U19 championship in Ireland, Fruean had open heart surgery to repair a condition known as pancarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the heart.

He played for the Hurricanes against the Blues last year, but arrived in Christchurch still regarded as a young player of immense potential but having proven nothing as yet on the big stage.

But he has made an immediate impression for the Crusaders in their opening four games, adjusting quickly to the pace and physicality and higher skills level required in the Super 14. As midfield partner to Tim Bateman against the Highlanders in Round One and the Reds in Round Two, and then to Ryan Crotty against the Sharks in Week Three and the Blues last weekend, he has proven himself a worthy replacement for All Black Casey Laulala.

With Laulala moving to Welsh club Cardiff Blues last year, the Crusaders put their faith in the 21-year-old Fruean and in his four matches he has richly vindicated that faith in him.

It was Fruean's try 67 minutes into the game against the Blues on Saturday that pushed the Crusaders ahead 31-15, the 104-kilogram outside centre breaking through the attempted tackle of Blues' flyhalf Stephen Brett near the 22 and charging powerfully towards the goal-line for the try which put the home team out of reach.

"We set up a scenario that we wanted to go with and I just had to make sure I carried [the ball] strong, the gap just opened up and I took it," Fruean told The Press.

"If it wasn't for Zac [Guildford] coming around, it would not have opened up. I was just trying to go through our game plan and what we anticipated for that situation."

While his former Crusaders' teammates celebrated, Brett was still feeling groggy and left the field soon after the try because of the knock he took to his head.

Fruean's toughest challenge of his fledgling Super 14 career will be next Friday when he plays opposite All Black Richard Kahui at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

"I am definitely feeling more confident and you can't ask for a better forward pack, you know. I am just trying to do my job and take it day by day," Fruean told The Press. "I'm playing outside one of the greatest first-fives [flyhalves] and I have got pace outside."

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