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Ireland player ratings vs All Blacks | 3rd Test July 2022
Ireland made history once again as they toppled the All Blacks in Wellington to claim a series victory in New Zealand for the first time ever.
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A stunning first half showing from the tourists laid the foundations for Andy Farrell’s side, as they went in 19 points up at the break.
There might have been panic when the All Blacks came back after the interval, but unlike Dublin in 2013, they weren’t able to nudge in front.
Beirne, Henshaw and Josh van der Flier were totemic for the visitors, while the hosts had given themselves far too much to do. A try from replacement Rob Herring sealed a famous win. On another historic night for Irish rugby, here’s how the men in green stacked up.
15. Hugo Keenan – 8
Finished his seventh international try brilliantly, and kicked well to put the hosts under pressure. Couldn’t do anything to stop Akira Ioane but otherwise defensively sound.
14. Mack Hansen – 7.5
Put consistent pressure on the hosts in the air. Limited opportunities to attack, but some nice touches when he did get on the ball.
13. Robbie Henshaw – 9
Some outstanding defensive contributions and thoroughly deserved his try.
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12. Bundee Aki – 8
Just the man for this type of contest. Direct with ball in hand, defensively solid and calm under pressure to put his old Connacht midfield mate over for his try. Nearly put Lowe away on the hour after cutting a lovely line.
11. James Lowe – 7.5
Answered some of his critics with an excellent first half. Did superbly to put Keenan away for his try. Also made a wonderful clearance kick relieved pressure on the tourists.
10. Johnny Sexton – 8.5
Kicked superbly and drove Ireland’s attack so well in an outstanding first half. Passed 1,000 international points.
And don't forget that Johnny Sexton is now in the 1,000 club ?#NZLvIRE | Credit: @skysportnz pic.twitter.com/5I5n8Pfy4W
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 16, 2022
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 8
With Sexton, controls the team so well. Did well when Ireland were on the back foot early in the second half to get front-foot ball that allowed Sexton to stem the flow of All Blacks points.
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1. Andrew Porter – 7.5
Got through plenty of work, but not the impact of last weekend. Gave away a couple of penalties, and was perhaps fortunate his card was yellow.
2. Dan Sheehan – 8
Some lovely footwork and an outstanding pull-back pass at the line as Henshaw scored. But a bad missed tackle on Akira Ioane as he scored.
3. Tadhg Furlong – 7.5
Not his flashiest performance but always gets through so much work. Made a big hit on Akira Ioane in the first half, but couldn’t stop Ardie Savea in the second.
4. Tadhg Beirne – 9.5
Supreme. The Munster man was everywhere. A constant threat at the breakdown, won a couple of lineouts on the home throw and showed his reading of the game with interception as All Blacks grew into second half.
A big contrast #NZLvIRE pic.twitter.com/GcyLcK9Bno
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 16, 2022
5. James Ryan – 8
His best game of the series. Played his part in a maul turnover and stole a couple of the hosts’ lineouts. Powerful late carries late on took Ireland home.
6. Peter O’Mahony – 8
Didn’t quite hit the heights of last weekend, but still a menace when the hosts attacked and some lovely touches in the wide channel on attack. Forced a turnover when the All Blacks looked to maul. His tears at full-time said it all.
7. Josh van der Flier – 9
Some really vital contributions again from the Leinster man, including the vital early try. Won a huge turnover penalty as the home side attacked the 22 that ultimately led to Equally vital turnover penalty that led to Keenan’s try.
8. Caelan Doris – 7.5
Didn’t quite have the same impact as opposite number Savea. Went more route one with ball in hand and put his tackles in.
Replacements
16. Rob Herring – 7
A magnificent finish to turn the game in Ireland’s favour shortly after he came on.
17. Cian Healy – 6.5
A brief cameo for the veteran during Porter’s stint in the sin-bin, before he returned late on.
18. Finlay Bealham – 6.5
Outstanding scrum on his own 5m just after coming on with 10 minutes to go.
19. Kieran Treadwell – 6
On for the outstanding Beirne late in the piece.
A remarkable, remarkable result for an exceptional Ireland side. #AllBlacks #NZLvIRE pic.twitter.com/ohaqn08H2y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 16, 2022
20. Jack Conan – 6
On for the final 15 minutes to replace O’Mahony.
21. Conor Murray – 6
Came on to see out the historic win.
22. Joey Carberry – 6
On for the final four minutes to replace the skipper.
23. Keith Earls – 6
On late in the midfield and made his tackles, but no time with ball in hand.
Comments on RugbyPass
Well that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
2 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
19 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
19 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to comments