Wynne Gray: Crotty's clever game stamped all over Soldier Field

All Black Ryan Crotty breaks through the USA defence during the International Test Match at Soldier Field, Chicago. Photo / Getty Images

One twisting early run outside a defender then back inside to find a trailing Williams was a gem. Most of the plaudits went to Sonny Bill Williams. Others to fuel the American thirst for heroes were Julian Savea, Israel Dagg, Kieran Read and Sam Cane.

Read's one-hand reverse offload to Savea from a tighthead scrum was pure Pinetree, while Dagg worked up some decent mileage and confidence as Cane piled through a stack of work.

Praising individuals was rarely the All Black way in the amateur days but that sentiment has been replaced with coaches prepared to discuss their men with statistics to reinforce their views.

Without knowing the strategic intricacies or the All Blacks' plans, our measurement is restricted to judging what we see on the field.

Ask six blokes for their view on players and there may be half a dozen answers. Retired forwards assess the pack, halfbacks and five-eighths focus on that area while the racehorses are drawn to judge the back four.

Back at the 1995 World Cup, Marc Ellis scored an All Black-record six tries when he played centre against Japan and was swamped by ESPN and other TV networks. It was some achievement. However, those with more rugby knowledge would suggest he was greedy and should have passed to unmarked teammates several times.

At Soldier Field, the All Blacks scored 12 tries and not one was scored by centre Ryan Crotty.

You needed a second look to make sure it was Crotty without that magnificent beard he grew this season. As soon as he played you could tell as he laid on a few tries with his surging runs and unselfish ability to position his teammates and pass at the right time.

It was Crotty's 10th test but only his second start after he began the 51-20 demolition of the Wallabies at Eden Park earlier this year.

The 26-year-old can play second five-eighth or centre and since his test debut, the All Blacks selectors have also tried Francis Saili, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa as back-up to the trusted partnership of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.

While Fekitoa has breathed plenty of fire with his rapid promotion this season, there is a lot about Crotty's play which has the look of Smith about it, the sort of game which delivers confidence to everyone around him.

We also remember his last-minute support play to score against Ireland last year to keep the team's perfect season intact. He is on the money sorting out his defensive targets, getting off the line fast for those duties and running the right lines as a support or decoy. One twisting early run outside a defender then back inside to find a trailing Williams was a gem.

Crotty was an NZ under-20 rep and Junior All Black before his test graduation and is a touch shorter and lighter than Smith but there are similarities about their play. His skill and character have made him the Crusaders captain when Richie McCaw and Read are absent and that control shows through in his game.

He might not have the magic feet, outrageous offloads or a concrete tackle but he makes good decisions and delivers.

Smith once said he worked the most on the psychology and getting details right. If his mental game was in mint shape, that made the difference. The more you watch Crotty, you get that same feeling about a glimpse into the future.