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Junior Poluleuligaga of the Chiefs - Source: Photosport -
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Junior Poluleuligaga, who made his run-on debut for the Chiefs in the scarcely believable 72-65 win over the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, is fast becoming just your ordinary halfback.
You see the Samoan representative and Bay of Plenty vice-captain is quite a big man: he stands at a shade over six feet tall and tips the scales at 94 kilograms.
However in the modern New Zealand Super landscape this sort of thing is becoming common place. In fact Polueluigaga is just part of the growing evolution of rather large halfbacks.
All Blacks Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu and Brendon Leonard are all of similar stature and, like Poluleuligaga, are all strong, tough and confrontational.
Indeed, it is a far cry from the days of yesteryear when perhaps the All Blacks most famous number nine, David Kirk, hid inconspicuously behind his tight five in his slight 73kg frame.
And while it's doubtful whether any of the modern day halfbacks could deliver a classical diving halfback pass like Kirk did, Poluleuligaga sees his bulk as an advantage.
"Yeah I do actually (see my size as a strength) the games changed where halfbacks are acting as an extra loose forward," Poluleuligaga said from Perth as the Chiefs prepare for their round three clash against the Force on Saturday night.
"Our assistant coach here (Craig Stevenson) likes to call us half-forwards instead of half-backs.
"You got to be strong around those fringes and to carry up the ball as well so these days you got to be big, strong and fast as well."
The 29-year-old certainly produced a performance against the Lions that showed off those strengths. In what was his first Super rugby match in three years, he was a constant menace in scoring a try and setting up another for team-mate Richard Kahui.
The open nature of the match, that saw a Super rugby record 18 tries scored, has had its critics this week but Poluleuligaga says he prefers it to the Northern Hemisphere rugby he had been playing with first Toulon and then Harlequins.
"I've been out for a few years now and to get back to playing this level has been quite refreshing. It's great rugby to be playing and I'm enjoying it.
"The game is at a faster pace and its good rugby as well."
And now the Poluleuligaga has had another taste of Super rugby - he had played nine matches for the Blues in 2006 - he wants the ride to continue.
Encouragingly for him coach Ian Foster left him on the field for the full 80 minutes on Saturday and strangely placed his Chiefs team-mate and halfback rival Leonard on the wing in the dying stages.
"Yeah I was a bit surprised, I thought he (Leonard) was coming on replace me but I think he has got good enough pace to be playing on the wing," Poluleuligaga said in jest.
Leonard surprisingly though did quite well on the flank, scoring a classic wingers try as the Chiefs score hit the 70's, but Poluleuligaga knows that the All Black number nine is currently the first choice halfback.
"I've set some goals for the year and one of them is to be the number one Chiefs halfback so we'll be pushing each other very hard. It will be good for us as individuals and for the team as well."
The Chiefs side to take on the Force is named at 6pm on Thursday night.
