All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

After a scrappy first half the All Blacks held a 17-6 lead after tries to halfback Cam Roigard and fullback Will Jordan in Turin.

The Italians made life difficult at the breakdown and at the lineout to restrict the All Blacks for most the game.

After a tight second half the All Blacks finally put the game out of reach at 24-6 with 10 minutes remaining before a late Italian try.

Here’s how the All Blacks rated vs Italy:

1. Ethan de Groot – 7
Back in for his first start of the tour. First scrum very dominant, winning a penalty. Again on the second. But the scrum started to turn midway through the first half with free kicks going Italy’s way before a full penalty. Second half the scrum dominance returned with a penalty from the first shove. Off at 50.

2. Codie Taylor – 5
The lineout had issues in the first half with targets dropping throws and Italy successfully bringing pressure. Taylor’s first throw was stolen and he finished with a 67 per cent success rate, below par for New Zealand. The All Black hooker was big in defence with six tackles. Off at 50.

3. Tyrel Lomax – 7
Lomax anchored a successful scrum that came up with four penalties with the tighthead on the pitch. Jumped the gun when defending own line, conceding one offside penalty. Overall a strong performance. Off at 54.

4. Scott Barrett – 5
Got done for a croc roll with the All Blacks’ losing a scrum in front of Italy’s posts. The captain was yellow carded as a result. When he came back on he straightened the attack well, setting the shape in motion and throwing good passes out the back or tip on. Dropped an uncontested throw inside Italy’s 22 which was a blemish.

5. Patrick Tuipulotu – 7
A strong performance from Tuipulotu in the carry and in defence. Forced into touch from the first kick-off, but immediately pinched the throw from the next lineout. Was the main carry option off 9 and got through his work. Had a key lineout dropped midway through the first. Defended strongly in close channels and topped the team’s tackle count with eight when he went off.

6. Wallace Sititi – 7
Another faultless display from Sititi without being flashy. Had key lineout steal in the first half. Had a line break running hard off Beauden Barrett late in the first half, put Jordan away on the outside but the All Blacks couldn’t finish. Defensively was all over Italy and smart around the park. Charged their halfback once and pressured the breakdown constantly without getting penalised.

7. Sam Cane – 6
Led the effort in defence with a high tackle count in his final Test. Had six carries as well. The attacking breakdown was a mess in the first 15 minutes with the All Blacks struggling to get ruck speed and clean ball, but that was a team issue. Kept a clean sheet. Off at 66.

8. Ardie Savea – 6
Gambled for a big steal with Italy hot on attack but penalised in the first half. Won two turnovers but also conceded two pens. A toiling game from Savea with plenty of carries and work load in defence.

9. Cam Roigard – 7
A jittery start from Roigard but he came good to produce some key moments. His first box kick exit went out on the full. Charged on his next exit attempt. Took a quick tap from inside his own half that led to a ruck turnover when play broke down. But he found his way back, forcing a ruck penalty drawing an illegal clean out. Two probing runs back-to-back opened up Italy up the middle and he scored another solo try. His kicking got better as the game went on. Off at 57.

10. Beauden Barrett – 9.5
Not much space to operate in early with Italy’s strong defence dictating terms. Went to the air to try and break Italy down. Late in the first half started to impact the game with ball-in-hand. Probed the line and put Sititi through for a big line break. Put Jordan through for another line break and then finished with an assist for the fullback. Didn’t overplay his hand but made big plays pulling the strings. Threatened in the second half. Finally made Italy pay from a scrum play with his second assist, this time to Tele’a. Scored his 45th Test try with a classic Barrett try returning a kick down the left touchline.

11. Caleb Clarke – 6
A steady hand from Clarke in the first half. Sparked the side with a momentum change with a restart catch after Italy’s first three. Carried hard in attack. Spilt a high bomb in the second half.

12. Anton Lienert-Brown – 6
Won a penalty from a good counter-ruck push in combination with Jordan and Tele’a. Had some nice link touches, finding an offload for Sititi after the Jordan break. Copped a yellow for stripping the ball out as the carrier went to ground with Italy deep on attack. Unlucky as the release call was made. Eight carries in the midfield.

13. Rieko Ioane – 5
Another up and down game for Ioane. First carry outside Jordan resulted in a turnover with lost possession. Second carry off a kick restart resulted in a huge line break, Ioane busting a sideline tackle and escaping upfield. Ran a key support line to draw in two defenders on Jordan’s try. Penalised for access on the first Italian kick in the second half. Isn’t getting the game plan to suit all of his skills.

14. Mark Tele’a – 6
Looked slippery with broken tackles on his first few touches. Busted up the middle for a clean break early in the second half but it became another missed opportunity. Had a tough chance from a bullet pass from Ioane but the ball went down. Scored shortly after from a wide pass from Barrett from a scrum play after moving to the left wing. Unlucky to be beaten in the air on the late Italian try.

15. Will Jordan – 7
A couple of good high ball takes early balanced out by a couple of turnovers. Had a chance in open space and tried to take Monty Ioane on the outside to no avail. Split open Italy for another line break shortly after and finished the passage a few phases later by diving over for his 38th Test try. Came up with a chip regather in combination with Barrett and worked hard for opportunities in the second. A few swing plays looked dangerously but Italy’s defence scrambled well. Moved to the right wing for final quarter. Named the official man-of-the-match.

Reserves

16. Asafo Aumua – 6 – On at 50. Forced a turnover shortly after coming on with a huge hit. Scrum was fantastic.
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 6 – On at 50. Kept the scrum dominance going and added a couple of tackle.
18. Fletcher Newell – 6 – On at 54. Reserve front row won another pen on their first scrum and again on the second, winning a yellow card.
19. Tupou Vaa’i – 5 – On at 51. Pressured a few Italian throws, nearly coming up a steal first up.
20. Peter Lakai – N/A – On at 66. A couple of carries for Lakai and forced a turnover on the final play.
21. TJ Perenara – 7 – On at 57. Had nice blind side run from the scrum, feeding Tele’a and forcing Italy into the corner. Ran the attack well thr0ugh 14 phases at one point. A strong cameo from Perenara.
22. David Havili – 6 – On at 61. Looked good at No 12 running tough in that channel.
23. Damian McKenzie – 5 – On at 61. Came on at fullback and looked lively. Had one smart long kick from a turnover to pin Italy deep.