Ireland A player ratings vs All Blacks XV | Autumn Nations Series
Ireland A player ratings live from the RDS: This was billed as a lovely niche fixture for the IRFU, an opportunity to give some of Andy Farrell’s fringe players a run and run the rule over other promising youngsters to help deepen the depth ten months out from the start of RWC 2023.
The Irish had been doing plenty of exploring of late, sharing a two-match series with the Maori All Blacks just a few months ago and then sending a batch of more youthful representative-level wannabees off to South Africa under an Emerging Ireland moniker.
All that exploration boiled down to this, a rendezvous on a cold Dublin night between players surplus to Saturday’s main events – the Ireland Test down the D4 road against the world champions Springboks and the All Blacks Test across the Irish Sea versus Wales in Cardiff.
Ireland fielded a starting XV containing eight Test-capped players, the All Blacks seven – including a bunch released by Ian Foster after last week’s scratchy win over the Japanese in Tokyo.
That latter crew proved much too strong, energy oozing through their early play and they sprinted 19-0 ahead with three tries – Shaun Stevenson with two and Brodie McAlister – before the Irish were tossed a late first-half lifebuoy with a Ciaran Frawley try.
WHAT A TRY! ?
Ciaran Frawley finishes a brilliant move for Ireland! ?#IREvNZ | #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/6CKEyRY10x
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 4, 2022
Any notions of a full-on Irish revival were swiftly quelled on the resumption, though, Ruben Love scoring within seconds and another sweet converted try followed from Braydon Ennor for a lopsided 33-7 advantage. There was a consolation from Ireland sub Marty Moore, but the feel-good vibe from that was quickly pierced by AJ Lam’s 61st-minute dive-in at the corner.
A Damian McKenzie try then rounded off the visitors’ try-scoring before a late Max Deegan consolation left the final score at 47-19. Here are the Ireland A player ratings on a disappointing night for the hosts:
15. Michael Lowry – 5
Cheslin Kolbe will learn on Saturday if he can play Test rugby at full-back for the Springboks and, as a warm-up, he won’t have enjoyed seeing the equally minuscule Lowry struggle in an uncomfortable defensive start not helped by his exit for a HIA he passed. Showed nice footwork when tidying early in the second half but was levelled by the not-so Love after passing clear. The passage summed up his bruising evening.
14. Calvin Nash – 5
This was supposed to be Jimmy O’Brien’s berth but the uncapped Leinster player was nudged onto the Ireland Test bench on Friday when Robbie Henshaw pitched up lame, paving the way for the promotion of Nash off the A replacements. Nash’s first main involvement was getting held up in contact at the expense of a midfield penalty. Struggled defensively with the All Blacks revelling in generating so many outside edge options. Had a positive last say, however, with that pass for the Deegan score.
13. Jamie Osborne – 6.5
Looked tasty a fortnight ago until injured for Leinster versus Munster, there were little glimpses here that offered encouragement such as a lengthy touch finder from the goal line and then a carry that briefly energised the home support eager for anything to cheer. Lived off crumbs, however, as the opposition backline was a different class.
12. James Hume – 6
Hungry to show credentials in an appetising head-to-head with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, he took a dunt early and then another, the latter resulting in a yellow card for Luke Jacobsen for foul play on halfway after the action had stopped with the All Blacks thinking they had scored their fourth first-half try. Nice hands in the Frawley try soon after but lost his footing in the counter-attack that gave the visitors their first-minute second-half try. Gone on 57 for Daly after a troubling evening.
11. Jacob Stockdale – 5.5
The wing whose electric try-scoring frill banjaxed Steve Hansen’s All Blacks in 2018 has endured quite a fall from that giddy breakthrough year, injury and lack of form pushing the 35-capper down the Farrell pecking order. You could see why here as he had an early kick charged down and was then at fault for the penalty that led to the All Blacks’ maul try from McAlister. To his credit, showed good heart when acrobatically winning an Irish restart and it was his carry that then gave his team field position to attack for their opening try.
10. Ciaran Frawley – 5.5
The utility that Farrell has placed so much emphasis on making it as an out-half, the multiple learnings arrived thick and fast here with the All Blacks backs looking so pacey and powerful. His basics required polish, such as missing touch with a first-half penalty. Popped up with the try just before the interval but was gone injured seven minutes after the interval after a performance that left him much to consider.
Oh that is ruthless from the All Blacks! ????
Shaun Stevenson gets his second and New Zealand's third try in a devastating counter!#IREvNZ | #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/Mpu14IEVfz
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 4, 2022
9. Craig Casey – 6
Skipper on the night, he was another with a tasty one-on-one to negotiate coming up against TJ Perenara. The experience didn’t go all that well. At fault for the first try, he was caught out by the McKenzie crosskick and easily beaten by Stevenson while positioned on the wing in defence. His pass did play its part in Ireland’s late first-half retort, but his energy didn’t make enough of an overall difference. Departed on 68 for Caolin Blade.
1. Jeremy Loughman – 5.5
Found it tough to gain any sort of foothold until his little carry into space near halfway gave Ireland some momentum when 14 early points down. Gone on 52 minutes for Dave Kilcoyne.
2. Dave Heffernan – 5
Can’t be pleased the first-half lineout was a reason the All Blacks dominated. Finished with a quick-tap penalty that fell short of the try line in the second half. Departed for Diarmuid Barron on 52.
3. Tom O’Toole – 6
Fleetingly showed he has more to offer than being only a set-piece prop; his catch-pass was wonderful in the assist for the Frawley score. Gone on 52 for Moore, who had a try within six minutes of his introduction.
4. Joe McCarthy – No Rating
A sub in the Champions Cup final, he has had very little rugby this season with Leinster but quickly showed nuisance value here when disrupting TJ Perenara at a ruck. Gone way too soon with an eighth-minute injury and was missed despite the arrival of Ross Molony as sub.
TAKE A BOW CALVIN NASH! ?
A brilliant pass behind the back to tee up Max Deegan! ?
#IREvNZ | #VMTVRugby pic.twitter.com/QQvAMV7zC0— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) November 4, 2022
5. Gavin Thornbury – 6
His tough-going display was encapsulated when he had a first-half lineout catch stolen in the All Blacks’ 22 at the cost of a try down the other end. Was then forcibly driven back in the carry some moments later on halfway.
6. Cian Prendergast – 7
One of the youngsters who most benefited from taking on the Maoris in July, he led the resistance here with his determination. Lovely attitude.
7. Nick Timoney – 6.5
Having looked the part when an emergency call-up for Farrell’s Test side against Argentina a year ago, he tried hard here but there was too much damage for him to mask. His desire, though, was illustrated by his scamper back to unsuccessfully try to prevent Stevenson from scoring his second try.
8. Gavin Coombes – 6
Is the go-to for go-forward with Munster but he couldn’t deliver that type of influence here and was gone at 33-7 on 55 minutes for the try-scoring sub Deegan.
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments