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McKenzie, Mo'unga or Taylor?: Former All Blacks split over selection of Super Rugby Aotearoa MVP

(Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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Kirwan described Mo’unga as an “unbelievable” player due to his attacking prowess and “great decision-making”.

“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.

“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.”

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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