Although the All Blacks did not reach their usual high standards during the 2024 Rugby Championship, there were some players whose really caught the eye with excellent performances.
Among the forwards, veteran hooker Codie Taylor, young loose forward Wallace Sititi and fellow back-row Ardie Savea played well on a consistent basis, while rookie scrum-half Cortez Ratima and exciting speedster Caleb Clarke were arguably the standout backline players.
‘One of the best All Blacks this year’
While the aforementioned players all impressed at various stages during the Rugby Championship and New Zealand‘s mid-year internationals, former Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall singled out experienced centre Anton Lienert-Brown for special praise and described him as “one of the best All Blacks this year”.
Although Lienert-Brown flew under the radar for large parts of the All Blacks’ Test season – as he made most of his appearances off the replacements bench – he caught the eye with several outstanding performances when he did take to the field.
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson is currently sweating over the fitness of first choice inside centre Jordie Barrett, after he sustained a knee injury in the Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia in Sydney, but Hall feels there is nothing to be worried about with Lienert-Brown a more than capable replacement.
“I think Anton’s been one of the best All Blacks this year. Honestly, I think his combination with Rieko (against Australia in Wellington) was really good on the weekend.
“What I’ve really enjoyed from seeing from Anton this year is his distribution skills. Like that ball that he threw to Sevu Reece for that first try at full speed, like that’s what we want to see in our 12, distribution.
“I can’t underestimate how tough that is, to be able to do that at full speed. On the chest and Sevu’s in full flight.
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“If that ball’s just back there, Sevu doesn’t score that try because he’s obviously going to get caught from behind. But I’ve been really happy with Anton’s distribution game. Even his little attacking kicks that he’s shown.”
Former All Blacks and Blues hooker James Parsons agreed with Hall and pointed out that Lienert-Brown has been playing well for the All Blacks throughout the Rugby Championship.
‘He was a shining light in that Argie performance’
“His attacking, kicking game, like the week prior, probably should have been a try to Tamaiti (Williams). And you look at the Argie (Argentina game), I know we lost, but he was a shining light in that Argie performance, especially from an attacking sense.
“He broke the line more often than not.”
Hall highlighted Barrett’s strengths as an inside centre but believes Lienert-Brown is just as good in that position for the All Blacks.
“So because the three things that obviously Jordie Barrett’s really good, he’s got that run pass kick option. That’s why he’s been picked as that at 12,” he said.
“And we talked about it not too long ago, having a 12 that has that kind of skill set. And so I think Anton has showed all those array of skills in these Test matches that he started. So I don’t know how long Jordie’s out for.
“Obviously David (Havili) came on off the bench, but Anton at 12, he’s definitely the guy, I think, while Jordie’s injured at this stage.”
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