MOTM v England
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Brodie DMac and Savea
But a host of honorable mentions in Smith Whitelock Read Crotty. Pretty much everyone bar 9 and 12
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Thought that I might have been going against the general consensus given that BBBR is always great, but I watched Whitelock really closely to see if he had fallen off form as much as been mentioned (for whatever reason). He was really good. Others obviously noticed too.
Ardie great again.
Crotty. When he is actually on the field, and not the infirmary, he is pretty bloody reliable. -
Crotty showed his experience in the wet too. Ran hard and straight and took some great lines. On reflection I think that is where SBW has fallen down in the last 12-18 months. He's looking for a single touch to make an offload or a grubber, and isn't bending or breaking the line like he used too. Still did well on D imo while he was on, early on in the game we were getting dealt to with their kicking and width of attack.
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My thoughts on who definitely was not MOTM here:
https://www.thesilverfern.com/2018/11/11/phew-abs-escape-on-armistice-day/
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Savea, Whitelock, B. Barrett
Tu’inukuafe, Retallick and Crotty next best.
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I went for Whitelock, BBR and Crotty.
On reflection Read should be in the three, his general play was solid, captaincy was very good.
The call to go for the try rather than the three points in last five minutes of the first half was crucial, fortune favours the brave but what could have been 15-3 at halftime became 15-10.
Big balls!
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Beauden, Brodie, Damien
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BB, BBBR and Crotty for me.
Retallick was the most influential player on the pitch. He destroyed the English lineout which helped to relieve the pressure on NZ.
Beauden Barrett's 100% success with the boot proved decisive as NZ won by a one point point margin only. The poor execution of the bex kicks came from both halfbacks, not from him.
Ryan Crotty was the outstanding All Black in attack. The NZ try was scored thanks to him.
Honorable mention to Ben Smith, Big Karl, Goodhue and Ardie. S. Whitelock was very busy, as usual, but could not make the hard yards, probably because he's physically cooked. Codie Taylor needs a rest, too.
DMac was DMac, with ups and downs. -
BBBR might be the most important player in our team. We are a totally different proposition with him there. BB wins a game with his boot, wonder never cease. Ardie is born again hardcore. I can't believe he is the same player, much maligned, who sat behind Matt Todd in the pecking order early in the year
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@cgrant said in MOTM v England:
BB, BBBR and Crotty for me.
Retallick was the most influential player on the pitch. He destroyed the English lineout which helped to relieve the pressure on NZ.
Beauden Barrett's 100% success with the boot proved decisive as NZ won by a one point point margin only. The poor execution of the bex kicks came from both halfbacks, not from him.
Ryan Crotty was the outstanding All Black in attack. The NZ try was scored thanks to him.
Honorable mention to Ben Smith, Big Karl, Goodhue and Ardie. S. Whitelock was very busy, as usual, but could not make the hard yards, probably because he's physically cooked. Codie Taylor needs a rest, too.
DMac was DMac, with ups and downs.Ups and downs yes, but the ups outweighed the downs and the ups scored points while the downs didn't concede them.
He got one of my votes (with BBBR and Savea) for the beautiful line he ran for the try, straight as an arrow and perfectly timed. Should have had the kudos for creating another as well.
