Rugby: Centres of attack

Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean outshone All Black Richard Kahui on Friday. Photo / Getty Images

The remarkable statistic from Friday night's clash in Hamilton is that four specialist opensides played most of the game and not one executed a turnover.

A cultural shift is in process, which is why there were two enormous young men in the respective No13 jerseys. The Chiefs and the Crusaders were both set up tactically to smash holes through the midfield and then try to win the ball back there on the strength of their destructive defence.

It made for a fascinating battle between Richard Kahui and the up-and-coming Robbie Fruean.

Centre, more than ever, has become the exclusive domain of the power athlete. Kahui stands 1.9m and is 101kg. Fruean is the same height and 108kg. They are both loose forwards in disguise, except they scoot across the turf with more zip.

There is now more onus on brutal defence. It's not good enough just to bring the man down now - he has to be stopped dead in his tracks and preferably driven back.

"With the new law interpretations, it puts a lot of emphasis on defence," says Kahui. "You have to make dominant tackles because you are really trying to win the ball after you have made the tackle. It's a big part of how we play at the Chiefs - it's all about winning the gain line. The Crusaders really worked us back and forwards.

"Overall, we defended pretty well. It was the turnover ball that was the hardest to defend. We got caught out because their best breaks came from us turning over the ball."

It was unfortunate for the Chiefs that the break to set up the Crusaders' first try came as the injured Liam Messam was hobbling around seeing if his hip would come good.

The Crusaders' second try was a tribute to their awareness and execution, which has long been their hallmark. That culture of excellence is already having a noticeable impact on Fruean. The 20-year-old moved South this year after coming through the Wellington Academy. A battle with illness in 2008 has left him light on experience but the indications are he's a fast learner.

Fruean had a tidier game than Kahui, showing considerable maturity in his decision-making. His power enabled him to free his arms in the tackle several times. He had a number of strong carries, too, and he policed his channel on defence.

It was a smart performance from a player who is clearly on the national radar, having won the IRB Junior Player of the Year in 2007 and having been called up to the Junior All Blacks last year on the strength of one outing for the Hurricanes.

"My goal was to find my feet in the first couple of games," says Fruean. "I thought it went pretty well out there tonight. I didn't get much of the ball and I was trying to make sure I did something with it when I did get it.

"I have been 110kg since seventh form, so I have been learning about my body and how to manage it."

Fruean did enough in Hamilton to impress Kahui.

"He's a big man," the Chiefs centre said of his opposite. "He ran well. He carried the ball well. He did a lot with it. All the centres around the country are getting bigger and bigger. I think that is across the board, rugby in general."

With a game coming up against the road-weary Lions who took a pounding in Sydney, Fruean should be given the space and possession he needs this week to show the full extent of his running power.

It's the part of his game he's most noted for and he hasn't yet had the opportunity to really show what he can do.