TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019)

gt12

If BBBR doesn't start and Barrett goes really well, I would say that he could be under pressure.

He didn't play in 2011, was excellent in 2015 (but Whitelock still has the defining play of the locks), and was terrible in 2019.

booboo

@Duluth said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

@booboo

I’m too young to know if he was good or not.. I would’ve been 8 or 9

Those were the halfbacks in front on the poll

Two things.

You're only about 10 years younger than me, but that makes me feel really old.
I think Kirk got votes for being the stand-in skipper, rather than for his halfbacking. Not a great passer. Wouldn't mind knowing who I voted for back then. Picking Smith as of now.

chimoaus

Kirks Try and blood on his face and lifting the trophy are seared in my memory and I suspect is for many others. Can’t remember if he was any good or not, I think NFJ was very well regarded back then. I clearly remember Bachop and think he is very similar to Smith in speed and accuracy. Smith for me though.

ACT Crusader

@nostrildamus said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

@Duluth said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

@nostrildamus

Based purely on RWC form?

At his best, I thought Ben Smith was a key player for us. But happy to go back and compare to Dagg's involvement.

At the pointy of the 2011 RWC Dagg was huge. His big boot and running got us out of some difficult positions. Also played a second playmaker role when our less experienced 1st 5s were out there

Bovidae

@chimoaus said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

Kirks Try and blood on his face and lifting the trophy are seared in my memory and I suspect is for many others.

Kirk banging his fist on the ground after scoring his try in the final, and getting smashed by Blanco after his run in the lead-up to Kirwan's try.

Nepia

@booboo said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

@Duluth said in TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019):

@booboo

I’m too young to know if he was good or not.. I would’ve been 8 or 9

Those were the halfbacks in front on the poll

Two things.

You're only about 10 years younger than me, but that makes me feel really old.

I think Kirk got votes for being the stand-in skipper, rather than for his halfbacking. Not a great passer. Wouldn't mind knowing who I voted for back then. Picking Smith as of now.

Except Kirk played bloody well in that RWC which is what he's being judged on. Pretty revisionist to suggest otherwise I'd say.

Tim

@Nepia Yeah, Kirk was brilliant in that tournament, especially the final.

booboo

"Bloody well"
"Brilliant"

Really?

Was ok. His pass was at best adequate.

He was Sid Going without Sid's ability for the spectacular finish.

As a halfback he was good. But not better than good.

Certainly not the second best AB halfback at world cups.

I maintain, his votes come on the back of a perception of his ability based on his stand in captaincy, and photos of of him holding the Cup.

The Silver Fern

TSF's Best RWC All Blacks xv (from 2019)