Rugby: Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster unsure where NZ Kiwis star Joseph Manu fits at Toyota Verblitz

Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster is hedging his bets on where he will play NZ Kiwis star Joseph Manu, when the pair hook up at Japanese rugby club Toyota Verblitz later this year.

On the same day, two of New Zealand sport's biggest names have announced their intention to join the glamour League One outfit, under the management of another former All Blacks mastermind - Sir Steve Hansen.

For Foster, the coaching appointment is his first since guiding the national side to the Rugby World Cup final and a one-point defeat to South Africa in France last year. Manu has previously signalled his interest in a code switch, when his Sydney Roosters contract ends this NRL season.

Foster has told Sydney's SEN radio that Hansen has been a longtime fan of Manu and did most of the hard work recruiting him over to the 15-man game, but adapting his league skills would take time, and some degree of trial and error.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I've been through this with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck the last few years in the All Blacks.

"You've got a real quality athlete, but... we'll have conversations with him through the pre-season. At this stage, he's really a wing/fullback.

"In rugby, I'd love to see him at centre down the track, with his build, and the way he loves to get his hands on the ball and run at people. Sometimes, with 15 in rugby, you really have to get involved in a lot more kicking and first-receiver type plays than he's used to.

"We've got to take it a step at a time, but the reality is he's a great athlete and you see what he does for the Roosters. We're looking forward to trying to tap into that and utilise him where he fits, certainly outside backs at this stage."

Tuivasa-Sheck switched from playing fullback in league to a midfield role in rugby, but never quite nailed the transition enough to consolidate a fulltime spot with the All Blacks, before returning to play centre for the NZ Warriors this season.

More to come 

Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster is hedging his bets on where he will play NZ Kiwis star Joseph Manu, when the pair hook up at Japanese rugby club Toyota Verblitz later this year.

On the same day, two of New Zealand sport's biggest names have announced their intention to join the glamour League One outfit, under the management of another former All Blacks mastermind - Sir Steve Hansen.

For Foster, the coaching appointment is his first since guiding the national side to the Rugby World Cup final and a one-point defeat to South Africa in France last year. Manu has previously signalled his interest in a code switch, when his Sydney Roosters contract ends this NRL season.

Foster has told Sydney's SEN radio that Hansen has been a longtime fan of Manu and did most of the hard work recruiting him over to the 15-man game, but adapting his league skills would take time, and some degree of trial and error.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I've been through this with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck the last few years in the All Blacks.

"You've got a real quality athlete, but... we'll have conversations with him through the pre-season. At this stage, he's really a wing/fullback.

"In rugby, I'd love to see him at centre down the track, with his build, and the way he loves to get his hands on the ball and run at people. Sometimes, with 15 in rugby, you really have to get involved in a lot more kicking and first-receiver type plays than he's used to.

"We've got to take it a step at a time, but the reality is he's a great athlete and you see what he does for the Roosters. We're looking forward to trying to tap into that and utilise him where he fits, certainly outside backs at this stage."

Tuivasa-Sheck switched from playing fullback in league to a midfield role in rugby, but never quite nailed the transition enough to consolidate a fulltime spot with the All Blacks, before returning to play centre for the NZ Warriors this season.

More to come 

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