Fullback role suits Payne

BRENDON O'HAGAN/Sunday Star Times

JARED PAYNE: 'There's been more running rugby, it's a lot of fun. I'm really enjoying it this year, compared to last.'

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No-one is happier to see the rise of young Crusaders wings Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland than Jared Payne.

The Northland captain regards himself as a specialist fullback but he was required to deputise on the wing last season with All Black Leon MacDonald a fixture in the No15 jersey.

But Guildford and Maitland – both 21 – look like making the wide berths their own this term – and Payne applauds the fact.

"Those two when they are fit and going are pretty awesome. I imagine they will keep the wing spots," Payne said. "It's just up to me to keep playing well and stay the first-choice fullback."

Payne turned 24 last October but is now the senior man of the Crusaders' outside back division with utility Colin Slade and Kade Poki both 22. New centre Robert Fruean is 21, wing-centre Adam Whitelock 22 and midfield back Tim Bateman is still only 22 though he's already chalked up close to 70 games for the Crusaders and Canterbury.

It's a young backline all-round with Dan Carter – 28 tomorrow – and halfbacks Kahn Fotuali'i, 27, and Andy Ellis, 26, the "old" hands.

"There are lots of good players this year, it keeps you on your toes," Payne said. "You've got to play well week-in and week-out to get a starting position. That's good for the team and good for the outsides."

He knows Junior All Black Slade, Canterbury's regular No15 in the Air New Zealand Cup, will put him under plenty of pressure for the starting spot at fullback.

"Sladey's pretty good. any week it could be either of us, so we've just got to keep pushing each other."

Payne has been impressed by Guildford, the Hawke's Bay flyer who made his test debut on last year's northern hemisphere tour.

"Young Zac's playing bloody well, hopefully he'll keep up his form. He's a good guy to feed off, he works a helluva lot, gets his hands on the ball and always keen to run. It's good having wingers like that to pass the ball to."

The Crusaders' young, adventurous backs are relishing the more expansive rugby in vogue this season. "Teams are more willing to keep the ball because you've got more of a chance of keeping it [at the breakdown]," Payne said.

"There's been more running rugby, it's a lot of fun. I'm really enjoying it this year, compared to last."

Payne, who first played representative rugby for Waikato and made his Super 14 debut in 2007 for the Chiefs, is also content with his rugby schedule – six months here for Super 14 and six months in Whangarei with Northland.

Payne has one more year on his Northland contract but is thinking about re-signing with the Taniwhas.

He's waiting to see what happens with the Air New Zealand Cup competition before finally committing pen to paper.

"I think they're pretty secure but I'll weigh up a few options and see what happens."

He will face Northland teammate Rene Ranger when the Crusaders host the Blues at AMI Stadium on Saturday night. But Payne does not believe he has a point to prove to the northern franchise after they let him go south in the draft last season.

- © Fairfax NZ News