Leigh Halfpenny admits he relishes taking on the kicking duty for Wales but he believes it’s just one of the strings to his bow.
The 24-year-old kicked 21 points in the British & Irish Lions’ third Test victory over Australia – the most by a Lion in a single Test – and his total of 49 points is also a tourists’ record for a series.
Across the tour he was on target with 40 of his 45 kicks and he was named man of the series, while in helping Wales defend their RBS 6 Nations crown this year, he was the competition’s top points scorer with 74, and he was named Player of the Tournament.
His contributions cannot just be measured from the tee however and in the third Lions Test he provided the assists for tries scored by Jonny Sexton and George North.
And Halfpenny has revealed he enjoys all parts of being a modern full-back.
“Kicking is the thing I get asked most about and I love talking about it,” he told Wales Online.
“I know I am privileged to be the kicker for Wales and the Lions and I enjoy every second of it. But I want to be seen as a rugby player.
“I love to get the ball in my hands and run with it as well as trying to put players into space.
“I also love tackling and all the other parts of the game that my position demands.
“I do my kicking after a rugby session and I never do more than an hour – as long as things go well.
“Maybe if things don’t go so well, I might have to stay a bit longer but more often than not 45 minutes to an hour is enough.
“I will make sure I do it four or five times a week. I see kicking as part of my role. I have a lot more roles than just kicking and I love those roles.”
