McKenzie, Mo'unga or Taylor?: Former All Blacks split over selection of Super Rugby Aotearoa MVP
Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga and Codie Taylor have been heralded as the most valuable players in Super Rugby Aotearoa by four former All Blacks.
Speaking on The Breakdown earlier this week, Jeff Wilson, Sir John Kirwan, Justin Marshall and Mils Muliaina all put forward their picks for which player they thought was the most valuable for their respective teams throughout this season.
In the eyes of Wilson, McKenzie’s match-winning exploits for the Chiefs was too much to look past in his summation of the best player in the competition.
The 26-year-old fullback has been crucial in the Hamilton franchise’s turnaround from winless cellar-dwellers to Super Rugby Aotearoa finalists by landing the match-winning points in the last four matches he has played in.
Against the Blues in Hamilton, he 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 for that reason that Wilson picked the 27-test international as his 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa MVP.
“I believe when I look at an MVP, it’s the impact they’ve had for their team, about how they’ve impacted their season,” the former 60-test All Black said.
“Damian McKenzie, for me, when you’re kicking match-winning goals, having the impact from fullback or first-five, that’s how I’ve rated him.”
Kirwan opted to back Crusaders playmaker Mo’unga, who was widely regarded as the best player in last year’s inaugural edition of Super Rugby Aotearoa and went on to scoop 2020 Super Rugby Player of the Year at the New Zealand Rugby Awards.
The 26-year-old has been in a similar vein of form this season as he has been the focal point of the Crusaders’ run to what could be a fifth straight title for the Christchurch-based side, should they defeat the Chiefs in this weekend’s final.
Kirwan described Mo’unga as an “unbelievable” player due to his attacking prowess and “great decision-making”.
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“I’m really hoping he’s going to take this X-factor form to the All Blacks where the team has been under pressure and he [is able to break the defensive line],” Kirwan said of the 22-test international.
“Critical moments, like Mils was talking about where they’ve got to know their roles, he [is able to break the defensive line] and lights the squad up with great decision-making. For me, that’s a special quality.”
While Marshall agreed with Kirwan’s views on Mo’unga, the former 81-test All Blacks halfback decided to name Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor as his most valuable player for the 2021 campaign.
The 30-year-old front rower has been in inspired form for the reigning champions this year, catching the eye with his huge work rate, defensive ability at the breakdown and his knack for scoring tries.
Taylor currently leads Super Rugby Aotearoa try-scoring leaderboard with seven tries to his name, two more than the next cab-off-the-rank in Highlanders wing Jona Nareki.
He also joins Hurricanes flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi at the top of the league’s tackle count (95), and it’s that kind of influence on the competition that Marshall has been impressed by.
Can the Chiefs end the Crusaders reign?
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“I thought the way that Codie Taylor came out of the sheds at the start of the season, he just looked hungry, he was fit, and he looks like he’s evolved his game,” Marshall said.
“Certainly playing confidently, and I think a lot of what the Crusaders were doing early in this competition was off the back of the work rate, the effort, the X-factor that Codie Taylor had.”
Muliaina also threw his support behind Taylor as the former All Blacks fullback identified that the 56-test international had provided a point of difference compared to other hookers across New Zealand this year.
“I think he’s brought something different,” Muliaina said of Taylor. “When you speak about core roles, he nails all of that, but he’s brought something different in terms of his running game, he looks really excited when he’s broken through.
“A lot of players can’t actually do that in terms of footwork but also speed, so he’s gone away and thought about how he can be better as an All Black, and that’s what I’ve loved about him.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments