There was a time when Leigh Halfpenny was one of the hottest properties in world rugby. The Welshman was an integral part of Wales’ team and he added a powerful and dependable presence at the back, with his ability under the high-ball and place kicking outstanding.
In conjunction with this, the former winger was able to add an incisive ability on the ball when coming out of defence; able to split the opposition in half with his movement or draw in defenders and release a teammate.
Much like the George North of a few years ago, Leigh Halfpenny was irreplaceable.
His Man of the Series performances for the British and Irish Lions against Australia in the victorious 2013 tour which will have surely had a bearing on Toulon deciding to pay a reported £750,000 a year for his services in 2014.
While this money may be scoffed at in football, it was a megabucks move for the Welshman and conveyed just how good he was.
That was then though. This summer, things took a turn for the worse for Halfpenny. His contract with Toulon was not extended, while he was a spectator in the Lions outstanding tour of New Zealand, which ended 1-1.
Indeed, his place at full-back was taken by Welsh teammate Liam Williams, who himself earned a massive move to double European Champions Saracens earlier this summer. It seems as though the man that took Halfpenny’s place in the Lions’ team has earned a place in the biggest team in Britain, while the former Toulon man is left to take Williams’ place.
For Wales, Halfpenny seems to have lost that mercurial aura. While his place kicking is still outstanding, his ability under the high ball seems to have wavered, and his counter-attacking game is non-existent. This has seen Dan Biggar take over kicking duties, while Williams is a far more exciting option at the back than Halfpenny.
The full-back has a chance at redemption though. The Llanelli Scarlets were triumphant in the Pro-12 following an outstanding 46-22 win over Munster in the final last season. The Scarlets played some very attractive rugby across the season, while they blew their Irish opponents away in the showpiece event.
Joining the best Welsh side of last season will allow Halfpenny the chance at rejuvenating his attacking game. Indeed, he scored a try in his team’s 57-10 rout of the Southern Kings along with three conversions and a penalty.
The staples of Halfpenny’s game have never been in doubt. However, his seeming inability to attack for Wales and the Lions saw him lose his place for the latter, while Williams should be preferred if the side are looking for invention and clinical running.
Halfpenny has a fantastic chance to restart his career following a tough ending to his time in France and he must take it. It is vital that he embraces the running rugby that saw the Scarlets win so many fans last year, and it could yet see the former Toulon man usurp his Saracens counterpart for his country.