Super XV stars debut new adidas FF80
A host of forwards in the Blues v Crusaders game at Eden Park on Friday night became the first players to grace the Super XV wearing adidas’ latest boot, the FF80 Pro X-TRX.
Joining skipper Kieran Read in the new boots were brothers George and Luke Whitelock for the Cantabs, while Blues captain Ali Williams also donned adidas’ latest offering.
Designed specifically for loose-forwards, the major innovation is the 5th stud at the front of the boot, strategically positioned directly where loose-forwards exert most rpessure when pushing in scrums, driving in mauls, or explosively accelerating to get to the breakdown.
Light enough that they don’t detract from speed around the paddock, but robust enough to protect the wearer in the depths of the contact zone, the FF80 looks likely to replace the R15 as the boot of choice for the game’s premier looies, with Richie McCaw destined to be another marquee name wearing them when he returns to the field later in the year.
