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All Black draws comparisons to legend Jerome Kaino after ‘game for the ages’
Shannon Frizell has been compared to one of the greatest blindside flankers in All Blacks history after his sensational performance against the Springboks in Auckland last weekend.
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Some rugby fans may have doubted Frizell’s ability to perform on the biggest stage going into this year’s international campaign. With a World Cup on the horizon, the battle for the No. 6 was going to be fierce.
But the Highlanders forward was given the first opportunity to make that jersey his own.
Coach Ian Foster and the All Blacks selectors named Frizell at blindside against Los Pumas earlier this month, and the 29-year-old took the opportunity with both hands.
After impressing during New Zealand’s dominant win in Mendoza, Frizell was given a potentially career-defining chance to start against world champions South Africa on Saturday.
Frizell was immense. Except for maybe Will Jordan, no player performed better than the flanker that night.
Coming up against a star-studded forward pack which included captain Eben Etzebeth, lock Lood de Jager, and former sevens ace Kwagga Smith, Frizell was a class above.
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Of course, it’s hard to look past the flanker’s Lomu-esque try during the first half. Much like the late All Black great back at the ’95 World Cup against England, Frizell ran over a defender with ease.
But that was just one of many highlights that night. Frizell stole the show against the Boks, and has seemingly made that No. 6 jersey his own ahead of a two-Test Bledisloe Cup series with Australia.
“A game for the ages really and I’m sure you’ve had people say this on your station Piney, the best blindside flanker performance I’ve seen since Jerome Kaino in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against Australia,” broadcaster James McOnie said on Weekend Sport with Jason Pine.
“That’s his jersey now, we can safely say it’s gonna take something special to take it off him but I think he deserves that chance now that he’s done it against such esteemed opposition.
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“Even when the freaks came on from South Africa… the giants, RG Snyman (who is) six foot nine, Pieter-Steph du Toit – World Player of the Year. Even when they came on, I thought Shannon Frizell stood up.”
After singing Frizell’s praises, McOnie began talking about the selection battle at flyhalf between “all-time great” Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie.
McKenzie impressed in the No. 10 jersey against Argentina, but Mo’unga stepped up against fierce rivals South Africa with potentially his best performance in the black jersey.
“If you look at history, have we done something maybe in the last World Cup when Beauden Barrett had just been named World Player of the Year twice, and was just starting to crack the code as a number 10 – and then we moved him.
“We don’t want to do that again. Richie Mo’unga had just won seven Super Rugby titles in a row, and had just got used to being a Test rugby player, why shift him now?
“Even though you know how much I love Damian, don’t forget you’ve got this absolute gem and all-time great in your midst and you wouldn’t want to waste his talents.”
The All Blacks take on rivals Australia in the first of two Bledisloe Cup Test matches later this month. Following that clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the two teams will meet again a week later in Dunedin.
Comments on RugbyPass
End to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to comments