Saturday, May 21, 2011

Stuff co nz: It's a twin thing for Saia, Anthony Faingaa

getty images
Not all twins share a tight bond, even those who grew up together pushing each other to sporting stardom.
Australia's most famous twins, Steve and Mark Waugh, were hardly matey during their test cricket careers and even disliked being photographed together - a result of sharing a bedroom for 17 years.
Rugby's most famous twins, Mark and Glen Ella, did get on well off the field as well as on, where they bamboozled defenders with their sublime skills and almost telepathic understanding.
But not even the Ellas' brand of brotherly love can compare with that of the Wallabies current twin combination - Saia and Anthony Faingaa - who admit they're more like an old married couple.
For one, backline marvels Mark and Glen wouldn't have been caught dead braiding the other's hair before a game.
It's a pre-match ritual centre Anthony quietly performs on hooker Saia, the older by five minutes, each time they suit up for the Super Rugby pace-setting Queensland Reds.
It certainly took grizzled former test prop Ewen McKenzie, who staunchly believes front-rowers should sport crew-cuts and cauliflowered ears, by surprise when he took over as Reds coach last year.
JIM MORTON 5-21-2011