Ireland player ratings vs Maori All Blacks
Ireland continued their resurgence in New Zealand by avenging their loss to the Maori All Blacks two weeks ago with a 30-24 win in Wellington on Tuesday.
After an ill-disciplined loss to the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton, Ireland learned from all their mistakes and produced a dominant display, with plenty of players putting their hands up for selection. Here’s how the players rated:
15. Michael Lowry- 6
Was caught in an undesirable position for the Maori All Blacks’ opening try of the match, but on the whole put in a solid display. Was full of attacking intent from the back field or when in space and always looked a threat.
14. Jordan Larmour- 7.5
A performance bookended with two tries, including brilliantly taken opener, where his quick thinking combined with his quick feet. Came off his wing often in attack and defence to great effect, but his performance was marred by the yellow card/ penalty try he conceded.
13. Keith Earls- 6
Not the start any player wants, miscontrolling a skidding kick-off, but bounced back quickly when assisting Larmour’s try with a quick lineout.
12. Stuart McCloskey- 7
Maybe not the performance with ball in hand he would have wanted, but was a rock in defence, holding up players on a couple of occasions to win turnovers. With that said, he did miss a tackle in the final play for the Brad Weber try. Has to be commended for the sublime miss pass for Larmour’s second try.
11. Jimmy O’Brien- 5.5
A quiet game compared to the first match against the Maori All Blacks, and saw far less action than his back three companions.
10. Ciaran Frawley- 7.5
Learned his lesson from the match two weeks ago to produce a commanding display with the boot, as Ireland comprehensively won the kicking battle. In tough conditions he was solid from the tee, but was pinpoint accurate with his kicks from hand to keep the hosts pinned back. Even contributed with a turnover in the second half.
9. Craig Casey- 6.5
Brought his forwards into the game well around the ruck, as he did in Hamilton. Complemented Frawley well with the boot, producing a number of probing box kicks.
1. Jeremy Loughman- 6
Solid in all aspects of the game during the hour he was on the field. Few standout moments, but equally never put a foot wrong during the hour he was on the field.
2. Niall Scannell- 6.5
Typified Ireland’s rebound from the first encounter with a rucking masterclass in the first-half, winning turnovers and even pouncing with an interception. Lineout throwing was slightly loose in the second-half but overall a solid display.
3. Tom O’Toole- 6
Like his loosehead partner Loughman, dependable and busy all game, although he was penalised for collapsing a scrum midway through the second-half.
4. Joe McCarthy- 5.5
Gave away a string of penalties in the first-half which was redolent of the team’s display two weeks ago, but shored up in the second-half.
5. Kieran Treadwell- 8.5
A huge performance from the Ulster lock. A frequent target in the lineout, and produced one crucial steal five metres from his line in the first-half. Got through a huge amount of work, and seemed all over the pitch. Wasn’t just a case of a high workrate though, as he often exhibited how strong he is in contact. Taken off before the hour mark, which bodes well for the weekend.
6. Cian Prendergast- 6.5
Another industrious display in defence, winning a crucial breakdown penalty early on. Did receive a first-half yellow card for not retreating ten metres, but does not deter from another promising performance.
7. Nick Timoney- 8
Another player that righted the wrongs of the first encounter with a physical and menacing performance that was topped off with a try. A thorn in the side of the Maori All Blacks at the breakdown all match, and had won over referee Karl Dickson. Showed great strength the wrestle the ball over the line for his try.
8. Gavin Coombes- 8
Yet another strong display around the fringes on both sides of the ball and proved again how hard he is to stop from close range. Coombes’ carrying got stronger and stronger as the match progressed and was able to make some piercing runs late on.
Replacements- 6
Few replacements were called upon in this match, but the ones that did play managed to maintain Ireland’s control. Ryan Baird was the pick of the substitutes.
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
6 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments