Ireland player ratings v All Blacks
Ireland registered their first ever win over New Zealand in Dublin and just a second in their history with a 16-9 win over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium. Jacob Stockdale scored the only try of the match, with Ireland’s other points coming from the boot of Johnny Sexton. Nathaniel Cope was at the Aviva Stadium for RugbyPass and rated the performances of the Irish players.
15. Rob Kearney 7
Back after recovering from a shoulder injury which forced him to miss the Argentina game. New Zealand tried to test him early on with some aerial balls. Denied a 27th minute try when he lost control of the ball. Made a good break early in the second half, selling a dummy, replaced by Larmour in the 66th minute.
14. Keith Earls 7
Tested positionally by Damian McKenzie early on. Two carries for 28 metres, including showing some fleet of foot in the 8th minute. He was unlucky not to get on the end of something after a Rory Best’s hit on Retallick in the 51st minute and Garry Ringrose’s chip ahead.
13. Garry Ringrose 8
With Robbie Henshaw out for the rest of the November series, Ringrose returned into the centre. He and Aki formed a solid partnership. Ringrose forced a turnover too and a lively presence when he did get the ball in hand.
12. Bundee Aki 8
After Ian Foster’s dig pre-match, Aki would have been keen for a big performance and he delivered. Made plenty of carries and he and Garry Ringrose dealt with most of what they faced defensively.
11. Jacob Stockdale 8
Was given an early tester with a high ball and spilled it. Then elected to run after trying to tidy up from a New Zealand breakaway in the 16th minute, when he should have sought touch – a penalty was subsequently conceded to make it 3-3 shortly after the quarter hour. A 44th minute chip over Kieran Read was charged down and the Ulster player was lucky that the All Black captain fumbled as a certain try was on. But what sets him apart is that Stockdale doesn’t let blemishes drag him down – four minutes later his chip kick worked to better effect, gathering and sliding in for a try holding off Aaron Smith and Damian McKenzie. It was his 12th try in 14 international appearances, hard to argue with those numbers.
10. Johnny Sexton 8
Up against another contender for the 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year in Beauden Barrett. Landed three from three in the first half and the conversion in the second. Better day kicking out of hand compared to Argentina, was unfortunate that one of his chips over the top was spilled by Kearney in the first half. Part of the double hit on Ben Smith with Stockdale in the 74th minute to drive him into touch deep in the All Blacks 22, as Ireland tried to pen their opponents back.
9. Kieran Marmion 7
With Conor Murray ruled out, Marmion remains the preferred choice as an alternative. His box kicking is an area that needs work, often failing to relieve pressure. Replaced by Luke McGrath in the 59th minute.
1. Cian Healy 7
Managed to get his hands on the ball a bit more. Part of a strong scrummaging effort, which dominated in the first half. Came off in the 51st minute blowing, he’d put in a big shift.
2. Rory Best 8
Some loose passing from the Ireland hooker, three of them in the first half, but managed to get away with each of them. A shaky lineout against Argentina was rectified, all seven of his first half throws comfortably finding their men. A big hit on Brodie Retallick in the 51st minute almost led to a breakaway try for Ireland. The lineout regressed when he was off the pitch.
3. Tadhg Furlong 8
The Irish scrum was dominant in the first half, shunting the All Blacks back. Furlong also got through his fair share of work too in the loose, making good gains with ball in hand.
4. Devin Toner 9
With England’s lineout dismantled by the Brodie Retallick show, Toner was always going to come back in after the Argentina game, a match which Ireland also struggled in that area. Lineout was solid when he was calling the shots. But out in the loose Toner certainly made his presence felt, he had big combination hit on Retallick alongside James Ryan in the 14th minute. One of his best performances in an Ireland shirt.
5. James Ryan 10
A huge presence, making multiple carries. Part of that double hit on Retallick in the first half to help set the tone that Ireland were not going to be bullied. Ireland’s top tackler with 19. Frighteningly talented.
6. Peter O’Mahony 10
The Munsterman had a tigerish display. A couple of big carries, but it was his work at the breakdown that was exceptional. Provided a crucial turnover in the 47th minute just outside the Irish 22 as the All Blacks appeared to be getting a head of steam. He got back brilliantly in the 61st minute to pluck out TJ Perenara’s chip ahead deep into the Irish 22. It was followed two minutes later by another big turnover, helped by Best, in the Irish 22. It was his last contribution of a fine performance.
Continue reading below…
Watch: Codie Taylor ‘can’t take anything away from Ireland’ following All Blacks defeat
7. Josh van der Flier 8
Very energetic at the breakdown, stopped a breakaway in the 35th minute when the ball went loose, forcing a knock on. 16 tackles, a fine shift after his late call-up on Friday for the injured Dan Leavy.
8. CJ Stander 8
After three minutes of New Zealand pressure in Ireland’s 22, he secured a big turnover in the 5th minute with Josh van der Flier alongside him. Another big one in 71st minute. He was a robust presence.
16. Sean Cronin 5
Came on in the 65th minute for Rory Best. The Irish lineout regressed after that, with two going awry to Murphy and Henderson. May come under increased pressure from Niall Scannell to be the reserve for Best.
17. Jack McGrath 7
After Healy had emptied the tank McGrath had half an hour to keep the momentum going, did so with a solid, if not spectacular, outing.
18. Andrew Porter 6
Came on in the 65th minute for Furlong, didn’t have a telling impact on the game.
19. Iain Henderson 7
Came on for Toner and had an impressive 18 minutes himself, notching up 7 tackles in that time. Highlights included a lineout steal in the 66th minute and he did well to slow the ball down in the 73rd minute in the New Zealand 22 to keep the pressure on.
20. Jordi Murphy 7
Came on for man-of-the-match O’Mahony, hard to replicate the performance of the Munsterman but made a few carries and chipped in with 8 tackles.
21. Luke McGrath 7
Came on in the 59th minute and his box kicking was an improvement on Marmion’s. His choice to do so with two minutes to go, gifting New Zealand back possession, may have come back to haunt him, thankfully for the Leinster man it didn’t.
22. Joey Carbery n/a
Came on in the 77th minute for Sexton, made his necessary tackles.
23. Jordan Larmour 6
Came on for Kearney with a quarter of an hour to go. Dealt with a high ball near the halfway, didn’t make any errors. He did he get a chance to run with the ball.
Watch: All Blacks wing Ben Smith following Ireland’s win
Comments on RugbyPass
What ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
129 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
129 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
129 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
129 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
129 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
129 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
129 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
129 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
129 Go to commentsHo hum.
129 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
129 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
129 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
129 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
129 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
129 Go to commentsBen, nobody gets fooled anymore by selective and biased data to support an hypothesis. Games are decided on such small margins these days that you win some and lose some, and dominance is a thing of the rugby past. Look at the RWC circle of fortune…. Ireland beats SA who beat France who beat NZ who beat Ireland. And so it goes on. Match officials help to eliminate real indiscretions. If they had been with us years before, no doubt results would have been different. Remember Andy Haden’s dive from a lineout in 1978 for which a match-wining penalty was awarded? Wales should have beaten the ABs that day. They took the loss like the gentlemen they were.
129 Go to commentsWith all the analysis and how good the all blacks were.The fundamental mistake with the ABs is that this is a test match and not an exhibition.There is no better team(country) in world rugby than the Boks that knows how to win a test match(we are post masters at this).We know our rules, we have the discipline, we tackle like beasts, we take our points and we never give up.I now have educated the ABs supporters(at least say thank you).Please stop “bitching” , accept what the outcome is and move along swiftly.
129 Go to comments