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Justin Marshall weighs into Kiwi fullback debate as he names his Super Rugby Aotearoa Form XV
Former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall has made some surprise selections while naming his Super Rugby Aotearoa Form XV for the 2021 season.
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Marshall has named a Team of the Week for Sky Sport after every round of the competition, but with this year’s round-robin all but over, the 81-test international took to The Breakdown to reveal who he believed to be the best players of the campaign.
His composite side featured many players who have starred throughout the second edition of Super Rugby Aotearoa, such as Codie Taylor, Richie Mo’unga, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii and Luke Jacobson, but some selections also raised some eyebrows.
At pains to point out that his XV was selected based purely on form and wasn’t a representation of what he thinks the All Blacks’ starting side should look like, Marshall was also quick address his shock inclusion of Chiefs star Damian McKenzie as the team’s head coach rather than at fullback.
McKenzie has been a central figure in the Hamilton franchise’s run to this weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa final from the No. 15 jersey but missed out on a place in Marshall’s team to Crusaders flyer Will Jordan.
Marshall explained that while he couldn’t find room for McKenzie in his playing side, he decided he could still recognise his form by picking him as the team’s head coach.
“Big talking point, and that is the coach,” the 47-year-old told The Breakdown.
“I know that I was going to get a lot of feedback from Chiefs mana territory that Damian McKenzie didn’t make it, so I’ve made him coach, but obviously I’ve selected Will Jordan ahead of him.”
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When pressed by The Breakdown host and his former All Blacks teammate Jeff Wilson, Marshall later expanded on the selection of Jordan ahead of McKenzie, who has frequently won matches for the Chiefs through his late goal-kicking and try-scoring exploits this year.
In the last four matches he’s played in, McKenzie has scored the winning points in either the dying minutes of the contest, injury time or extra-time.
Against the Blues in Hamilton, the 26-year-old scored and converted an 80th minute try to secure a 15-13 win before knocking over a long-range penalty deep into extra-time to beat the Highlanders 26-23 in Dunedin two weeks later.
McKenzie followed that up with a 78th minute penalty to beat the Crusaders 26-25 in Christchurch the next week, and then booted the Chiefs to a 26-24 victory over the Hurricanes with a 45-metre penalty after 82 minutes a fortnight ago.
It’s been a good season for the hookers so far – but can anyone usurp the #AllBlacks‘ dynamic duo? #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/cJHnr9WA2K
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 4, 2021
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However, Marshall said that ability to convert goal-kicking opportunities into match-winning moments should be expected of any team’s goal-kicker.
“There’s no doubt that he clutched those moments, but that’s what goal-kickers have to do, that’s what they’re required to do,” he said.
“If you decide to be a goal-kicker, it doesn’t matter if you’re kicking them in the first minute or the 82nd minute, that’s your role.”
Marshall then compared McKenzie’s season stats to Jordan’s, highlighting that the latter had scored more tries (four vs three), averaged far better running metres (784m from 60 carries vs 557m from 68 carries), made more tackle busts (25 vs 21) and made more clean breaks (10 vs five) than the former.
Ex-All Blacks utility back and fellow panellist Mils Muliaina wasn’t convinced with Marshall’s selection, though, as he believed those figures don’t tell the entire story of what makes a good fullback.
The 2011 World Cup-winner pointed to an error that Jordan made in the Crusaders’ clash against the Chiefs in Hamilton that eventually led to a try as an example of a flaw in the youngster’s game that Marshall’s statistics didn’t illustrate.
“I think he’s brilliant. Absolutely outstanding player,” Muliaina said of Jordan.
“[The Silver Lake deal] won’t necessarily see them play more rugby each year but, instead, play higher value tests.”
Gregor Paul has the latest on what’s in store for the #AllBlacks in 2021 and beyond.https://t.co/eaUX8iSrYG
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) May 4, 2021
“In terms of the carry metres, sometimes you can’t factor that in because teams kick to you and you’ve got 50 metres to get to yourself. That’s how I got plenty of my metres, but the thing is why do they kick to you? Because they want to force a mistake.
“Teams are kicking to you, you’re getting relatively easy metres, but where I come from, from a fullback’s point-of-view, is the detail in what you do, the times that you make sure that your core role, your high ball and things like that, they come off at key moments.
“There was a time in the Chiefs vs Crusaders game where I thought he was hot. He’s scored a try in the second half, but then that one moment where he actually has to take that high ball [he failed to do so].
“Sometimes you go a little bit quiet because the game’s not coming your way. It’s that sort of stuff. It’s probably a little bit harsh, but with his skill set, he probably should have caught that, and what happens from the end of it? The Chiefs score.
“I still think there’s plenty of room for him to grow in that area in terms of keeping in the game.
“When it’s not going his way, it’s alright when you’re moving around, and that’s where the difference is, I think, for Damian McKenzie. He’s constantly thinking, he’s constantly roaming around to see what’s happening.
“There’s no stats on pressure and how you react to pressure stuff.”
The non-selection of McKenzie at fullback wasn’t the only surprise in Marshall’s Form XV, as former All Blacks wing Sir John Kirwan questioned the absence of Crusaders lock Scott Barrett.
Marshall instead opted for a second row consisting of Barrett’s teammate Sam Whitelock and Blues veteran Gerard Cowley-Tuioti.
“I’ve picked Sam Whitelock, but I’ve regularly found when I was selecting my side each week that Cowley-Tuioti was in my team,” Marshall explained.
“He was in a forward pack that consistently got changed, all the time that got tweaked. He was the one rock in that team that consistently performed and stood up, [but that] doesn’t mean that Scott Barrett wouldn’t be in my All Blacks team.”
One other eye-catching selection came at halfback, where Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber beat out Highlanders co-captain Aaron Smith for a place in Marshall’s side.
He reasoned that the rise of Folau Fakatava at the Highlanders has provided Smith with “some challenges” at the franchise this season.
Marshall added that, by comparison, Weber has been consistent in his efforts for the Chiefs leading into their final clash with the Crusaders in Christchurch this Saturday.
“Aaron Smith, Brad Weber, people will sort of wonder about that, but I think he’s had some challenges this year,” he said.
“Nuggy [Smith], he’ll admit that with Fakatava putting pressure on, whereas Weber has just started consistently, been very good.”
Justin Marshall’s Super Rugby Aotearoa Form XV
1. Aidan Ross (Chiefs)
2. Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
3. Tyrel Lomax (Hurricanes)
4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (Blues)
5. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders)
6. Shannon Frizell (Highlanders)
7. Dalton Papalii (Blues)
8. Luke Jacobson (Chiefs)
9. Brad Weber (Chiefs)
10. Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)
11. Leicester Fainga’anuku (Crusaders)
12. David Havili (Crusaders)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)
14. Sevu Reece (Crusaders)
15. Will Jordan (Crusaders)
Head coach: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
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Comments on RugbyPass
An 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.
10 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 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.
24 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.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
10 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
10 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments