'He's running around like a very quick fly': All Black impresses after first start
The All Blacks returned to winning ways on Sunday morning [NZT] with an emphatic 90-point win over the United States in Washington DC.
Playing at FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Football Team, the All Blacks got off to the perfect start. Luke Jacobson crossed for the opening score just 29 seconds into the Test, with a well-worked team try from the kick-off.
It was one way traffic for practically the whole test, with the heavily favoured All Blacks running in 16 tries to two. But those two tries made history for the Eagles, with Nate Augspurger’s effort in the 40th minute the first try scored by the United States against the All Blacks ever.
But All Blacks selectors may have some big decisions to make ahead of the Welsh Test next weekend, with a number of players standing up and impressing. This comes after 11 members of the squad left the United States early to prepare for the upcoming four European matches.
The All Blacks recorded a dominant 104-14 win over the United States on Sunday morning [NZL], but not everything stuck in the almost perfect display. #USAvNZL #1874Cup https://t.co/sXo9eHwttd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2021
“As a group of selectors we went into that game looking probably at three or four positions specifically,” Foster said following the 104-14 win.
“I was really pleased with the performance of a whole lot of the team overall but there were some players that showed that they want to play and that’s exciting for us.”
Other than captain Sam Whitelock, who just played his 128th Test, the most experienced forward in the starting side was Prop Angus Ta’avao, who ran out for his 20th international cap against the States.
The average amount of Test caps in the starting backline going into the match was also 14 per player, with Finlay Christie and Braydon Ennor both named for their first starts in the black jersey. Prop Ethan de Groot was also named for his first start, and third cap overall.
While all three players were among the standouts in the Test, Christie is deserving of a mention. The Blues scrumhalf received an 8.5 rating in Mike Rehu’s player ratings for this week.
Christie was everywhere, had two try assists to his name, and his composure around the park was impactful as well.
“He continues to grow I think, and he’s fun to watch isn’t he because he’s all arms and legs and he’s running around like a very quick fly. He’s just buzzing around all over the place,” Foster said.
“He’s getting better and better. I think the thing that I really did enjoy about him was his defence and some of his defensive reads for a small man were excellent.
“The other one who had his first start…Ethan de Groot. Got an early try which he was pretty excited about but great to see him getting good minutes. And like I’ve said, he’s a young man who we’ve been very impressed with so delighted with him as well.”
Starting in an inexperienced midfield combination, Ennor was also one of the players who shone brightest throughout the convincing win.
While he didn’t cross for a try, every time he got his hands on the ball, the 24-year-old looked a chance of making something happen.
It wasn’t perfect, but the All Blacks ran up a score reflective of the dominance many expected of them against the USA Eagles in Washington DC. #AllBlacks #USAEagles #USAvNZL https://t.co/ey6re3lbzK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 23, 2021
But after switching to the wing during the match and then impressing, his versatility may come into play during the upcoming Tests.
“Really delighted for him actually. Trained well lately and desperate for an opportunity and you know, I thought he played well at centre,” Foster said. “I thought he probably played even a little bit better when he went on the wing.
“He shows us that there’s two positions there that he really wants to be part of so I was pleased for him. Defended strongly, always makes good decisions defensively.
“This was a game that he had a few more touches to get his attack part of his game going and it’s nice to see him starting to run and distribute the way that we want him to.”
Lining up alongside Quinn Tupaea, the two had just six Test caps between them ahead of this match. But they did what they needed to and clearly impressed Foster.
“I thought Quinn tidied up a lot of situations and then he showed a lot of, he knows his game very well and he doesn’t try to overplay his hand but he sticks to what he does really, really well.
“He’s a young man, he’s growing, and again both of those two I thought should be pretty proud of their effort.”
The All Blacks are set to face 2021 Six Nations champions Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday morning [NZT], in the first of four matches against European opposition.
They’re also set to face Italy and Ireland, before a blockbuster clash against 2023 Rugby World Cup hosts France at Stade de France in Paris – less than two years before the two sides are set to face in pool play at the tournament.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments