All Blacks player ratings: Halves lacking influence in a year of stagnation
After a disastrous start to the season, dropping three of their first four games, the All Blacks fought their way to third spot on the World Rugby rankings off the back of six wins and a draw at the tail-end of their campaign.
Gauging where the team is now compared to the start of the season is a difficult task, however, given the disparate strengths of the opposition faced either side of the season.
Ireland and South Africa – who collectively inflicted three defeats on New Zealand – will be contenders at next year’s Rugby World Cup. The likes of Australia, Scotland and Wales, however, will rightly be rank outsiders.
Regardless of the team’s overall standing, there were certainly a number of players who advanced their cases for selection throughout the season – and a number of men who may well have played their final Tests.
This week, RugbyPass will be rating the performances of the All Blacks throughout the season. Today we look at how the halves faired in 2022.
Halfbacks
Finlay Christie – 5/10
Played: 9 (2 starts)
Best performance: Argentina II
2022 was supposed to be the year that Christie announced himself as the second-best halfback in New Zealand, with both Brad Weber and TJ Perenara dropped from the All Blacks at the beginning of the season. After a big campaign with the Blues, however, Christie was never able to transfer that hot form to the international arena, and his starts against Japan and Scotland coincided with some of the All Blacks’ most disappointing showings of the season. While Christie’s performances off the bench were more prosperous, he was never able to put any real pressure on Aaron Smith – and that probably influenced the generally middling performances from the NZ halfbacks throughout the year.
Folau Fakatava – 5
Played: 2 (0 starts)
Best performance: Ireland II
After making two scrappy appearances off the bench in July, Fakatava wasn’t sighted for the remainder of the season. As with many of the other inexperienced squad members, the All Blacks’ poor run of form in the early stages of the season prevented much chopping and changing to the line-up and a reinjured ACL ahead of the end-of-year tour ensured Fakatava’s debut campaign would go down as a massive disappointment.
Aaron Smith – 6
Played: 12 (11 starts)
Best performance: Wales
Smith delivered two standout showings in black this year against Australia in Auckland and Wales in Cardiff. In those two matches, his wider skillset was on display with the 34-year-old’s running game causing as many problems for the opposition as his bullet pass. Throughout the rest of the year, however, Smith was simply serviceable. His pass was generally crisp – but still suffered when the All Blacks were on the backfoot (which wasn’t an uncommon occurrence) and he rarely if ever challenged the close-range breakdown defenders with darts of his own. Every All Black needs to have rivals nipping at their heels if they’re to play at their best and Smith simply didn’t have that in 2022.
Brad Weber – N/A
Played: 1 (0 starts)
Best performance: Wales
A handful of minutes off the bench against Wales following Fakatava’s injury wasn’t enough to warrant an overall rating for Weber. The Chiefs co-captain might just be the next best thing behind Smith, in terms of a like-for-like replacement, but he’ll need to be at his best during Super Rugby next season if he wants to travel to France.
TJ Perenara – 6
Played: 2 (0 starts)
Best performance: Scotland
It’s not an overstatement to say that Perenara possibly changed history with his impact against Scotland, helping to prevent what would have been a first-ever loss for the All Blacks against their northern opposition. The 30-year-old was at his best in that fixture and emphasised the different attributes he brings to the halfback role. He couldn’t make quite the same impact against England (and while that last kick might have been the right tactic, it was so terribly executed) and the situation remains that for all the positives Perenara does bring to the field, some of his core halfback skills don’t measure up to that of his rivals.
First fives
Beauden Barrett – 5
Played: 11 (8 starts)
Best performance: Ireland I
It was an up, down and all-around year for Beauden Barrett, who began the season as the All Blacks’ first-choice pivot, found himself warming the bench as the year wore on and then finished up as the team’s number-one fullback. It’s safe to say that Barrett never really stood out in any of his roles in 2022 – and he’s really not recaptured the sort of form that made him a twice World Rugby Player of the Year since spending a season in Japan following the 2019 World Cup. While his kicking game has always been circumspect (bar cross-kicks, where he’s possibly the best exponent in the world), his running game appears to have mostly deserted him, limiting his ability to really make an impact from fullback or first five-eighth. Perhaps a full season at the back for the Blues would reinvigorate his international career, instead of swapping between the No 10 and No 15 jerseys.
Richie Mo’unga – 7
Played: 12 (8 starts)
Best performance: South Africa II
Bringing in a new attack coach in the form of Joe Schmidt did Mo’unga a world of good in 2022, with the pivot looking markedly more comfortable as the primary general in the All Blacks backline. A transformative showing off the boot against the Springboks at Ellis Park helped pull NZ out of their slump (at least temporarily) but his kicking game never again reached those dizzying heights throughout the year, with his tactical work against Japan a season lowlight. Still, Mo’unga appears to have mostly found his feet as a Test playmaker even if there is considerable room for growth.
Stephen Perofeta – N/A
Played: 3 (1 start)
Best performance: Japan
It’s hard to know where to start with Perofeta. 80 minutes against Japan was his only real action of the season, with one-minute cameos against Argentina and Scotland barely worth mentioning. In those 80 minutes in Tokyo, Perofeta did little to convince he was ready for the big leagues – although it’s not like any other All Blacks on show considerably improved their standing either. At this stage, it’s difficult to see Perofeta travelling to next year’s World Cup, simply because the selectors don’t seem to have any faith in the 2022 debutant.
Full ratings (to date)
Hookers:
Dane Coles – 4/10
Samisoni Taukei’aho – 8
Codie Taylor – 5
Asafo Aumua – N/A
Props:
Aidan Ross – N/A
George Bower – 6
Nepo Laulala – 4
Angus Ta’avao – 4
Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 5
Karl Tu’inukuafe – N/A
Tyrel Lomax – 7
Ethan de Groot – 6
Fletcher Newell – 5
Locks:
Scott Barrett – 7
Josh Lord – N/A
Brodie Retallick – 7
Tupou Vaa’i – 5
Sam Whitelock – 7
Josh Dickson – N/A
Patrick Tuipulotu – N/A
Loose forwards:
Sam Cane – 6
Akira Ioane – 6
Dalton Papali’i – 7
Ardie Savea – 8
Hoskins Sotutu – 6
Pita Gus Sowakula – N/A
Shannon Frizell – 6
Billy Harmon – N/A
Halfbacks:
Finlay Christie – 5
Folau Fakatava – 5
Aaron Smith – 6
Brad Weber – N/A
TJ Perenara – 6
First fives:
Beauden Barrett – 5
Richie Mo’unga – 7
Stephen Perofeta – N/A
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments