All Blacks player ratings: High highs and low lows for centres and outside backs
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 midfielders and outside backs faired in 2022.
Midfield
David Havili – 5/10
Played: 10 (7 starts)
Best performance: Argentina II
Somewhat ironically, it was only when Havili was starting to really find his feet as an All Black – and was given free rein to make the most of his diverse skillset – that he lost his place in the starting line-up to Jordie Barrett. Havili could potentially be a very strong Test player, but not when his core duty is reduced to attempting to crash the ball up in the midfield, something he’s ill-suited for. Against South Africa in Johannesburg and Argentina in Hamilton, Havili’s distributive game (both out of hand and off the boot) helped unlock some sturdy defences but we never got to see him at his best because injury paved the way for Barrett’s shift to 12, and he was clearly a better fit for what Ian Foster expects from his inside centre.
Jack Goodhue – N/A
Played: 0
While Goodhue was included in the All Blacks squad for the first half of the campaign, he didn’t get on the park and eventually succumbed to a knee injury. A spot at the World Cup is likely out of reach for the smooth operator who’s had a wretched run of luck.
Rieko Ioane – 7
Played: 12 (11 starts)
Best performance: Argentina II
Ioane’s form throughout 2022 largely mirrored that of the All Blacks’. He started slowly, bursting to life in the second Test with the Springboks and delivering another strong performance against the Pumas in Hamilton (but was dire against the same opposition in Christchurch) and was one of New Zealand’s best in the Bledisloe Cup clashes with Australia. While Ioane delivered a game-changing cameo off the bench in Edinburgh, his two starts on the end-of-year tour against Wales and England were hugely disappointing. He’s an incredibly dangerous individual but the consistency isn’t there just yet and the jury is out on whether centre is his best position, even after some compelling performances in the role this year.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – N/A
Played: 3 (1 start)
Best performance: Japan
After a lot of hype, the Tuivasa-Sheck show was a bit of a non-event in 2022. Could he be a great international midfielder? Potentially. He certainly didn’t get the opportunity to prove it this year, however.
Quinn Tupaea – 6
Played: 7 (2 starts)
Best performance: Ireland I
Injury robbed Tupaea of building on what was a reasonably solid start to the year, with the young Chief delivering a compelling performance in the opening Test of the season before going backwards against Ireland the following week (then again, who didn’t?). When Havili returned from injury at the end of the July series, Tupaea was forced into a bench role where he was typically able to add some impact later in matches. A bad injury against the Wallabies, however, prevented Tupaea from really hitting his straps in 2022 and he will be in a race against time ahead of next year’s World Cup to get back out on the field and prove he’s one of the top midfielders in the country.
Braydon Ennor – N/A
Played: 2 (1 start)
Best performance: Japan
Ennor has yet to really find his top form since a run of bad injuries and spending much of the season on the training park for the All Blacks probably won’t have helped his development as much as playing week in and week out for Canterbury. He doesn’t look like an All Blacks midfielder right now and with Havili, Goodhue and Leicester Fainga’anuku all options at the Crusaders, it’s hard to know if he’ll get the real chance to develop into one.
Anton Lienert-Brown – 5
Played: 4 (1 start)
Best performance: Scotland
After a lengthy injury lay-off, Lienert-Brown featured in all four of New Zealand’s end-of-year tour games and generally looked short of a gallop. While the All Blacks’ many defensive issues late against Japan and England weren’t all down to him, they did seem to occur around his channel, which wasn’t the best look. There were glimpses of the skills and talents Lienert-Brown brings to the field as the game unfolded in Edinburgh but there were also plenty of mistakes from the undercooked midfielder, who will be in much better form after a full season of Super Rugby Pacific next year.
Outside backs
Caleb Clarke – 6
Played: 10 (10 starts)
Best performance: Argentina II
After bursting onto the scene in 2020, Clarke still hasn’t quite found his feet at Test level – both literally and figuratively. Although Clarke’s potential is unquestionable, the 23-year-old wasn’t able to string together too many impactful performances throughout 2022. While tries scored should never be the sole measure of a winger’s worth, just three touchdowns in 10 appearances illustrates Clarke’s less-than-stellar impact this year. While he found himself in open space from time to time – thanks in part of his ability to throw himself through a gap – the All Blacks were rarely able to capitalise on those opportunities. With so many good wing options around the country, Super Rugby form could play a bit part in who makes it to next year’s Rugby World Cup. You get the feeling that Clarke could ‘click’ at any time – but it didn’t happen in 2022.
Leicester Fainga’anuku – 5
Played: 2 (2 starts)
Best performance: Ireland 1
After getting two starts in the All Blacks’ opening games of the season, Fainga’anuku wasn’t sighted for the remainder of the year. His debut against Ireland wasn’t too shabby at all, with a couple of devastating runs but he couldn’t quite replicate that same performance the following week and was caught out a handful of times on defence (and also copped a yellow card for an attempted charge-down). Looks to have lost his place in the pecking order to Mark Telea.
Will Jordan – 6
Played: 8 (7 starts)
Best performance: Australia II
After being named Breakout Player of the Year in 2021, Jordan had a tougher time of things this season. His late-season unavailability coincided with New Zealand’s best form and in the first half of the year, Jordan’s struggles matches those of the side as a whole. There were some strong performances littered throughout, particularly the two Bledisloe Tests and the rematch with the Springboks in Johannesburg, which showcased Jordan at his best, but there were also some dips throughout the season. You get the feeling that Jordan was set to hit his straps in November but an inner-ear problem curtailed that.
Sevu Reece – 6
Played: 6 (5 starts)
Best performance: Ireland I
For a player that loves to get involved, Reece struggled to do just that in 2022. The opening match against Ireland was the exception; Reece was here, there and everywhere, but he didn’t take his chances throughout the campaign. He barely got his hands on the ball in the latter two Tests with Ireland and had the same problem against Wales and come the end of the season, Mark Telea was preferred on the right wing. With the likes of Clarke, Fainga’anuku, Jordan and potentially even Rieko Ioane to compete with in the outside backs, Reece won’t have many opportunities next year to push for selection ahead of the World Cup.
Jordie Barrett – 7
Played: 12 (12 starts)
Best performance: Australia II
New Zealand’s most consistent back. While many were (perhaps rightly) calling for Barrett to be shifted to the midfield, his work under the high ball was hugely important in the All Blacks remaining competitive in South Africa and with another player wearing No 15, might not have grabbed the win at Ellis Park. Barrett was Mr Reliable during the middle part of the year and then really flourished when he did eventually get pushed into second five-eighth, delivering strong showings against Australia, Wales and England. How Barrett is used by Foster and co next year will be fascinating.
Mark Telea – 8
Played: 2 (2 starts)
Best performance: Scotland
Telea barely put a foot wrong in his two impressive showings on the right win against Scotland and England. One non-pass aside, Telea made every touch, carry and run count and would have given the selectors plenty of food for thought ahead of next season. He might not quite have the aerial or kicking game of Jordan or the same power as Clarke, but he’s devastating with ball in hand and should be proud of his two appearances to round out the year.
Full ratings
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
Midfield:
David Havili – 5
Jack Goodhue – N/A
Rieko Ioane – 7
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – N/A
Quinn Tupaea – 6
Braydon Ennor – N/A
Anton Lienert-Brown – 5
Outside backs:
Caleb Clarke – 6
Leicester Fainga’anuku – 5
Will Jordan – 6
Sevu Reece – 5
Jordie Barrett – 7
Mark Telea – 8
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments