The winners and losers from the All Blacks' thumping of Tonga
The All Blacks put on a clinic as they thrashed a hapless Tonga side 92-7 in their final pre-World Cup fixture before the tournament kicks off in a fortnight’s time.
Such an emphatic win highlighted just how dangerous the All Blacks can be at full tilt, and with the sport’s biggest event just around the corner, the threat posed by the reigning world champions is becoming clearer and clearer to see.
With that in mind, here are a select few winners and losers from the 85-point drubbing.
Winner – George Bridge
A stunning display of running rugby from the test rookie saw him rack up an incredible stat sheet which read eight line breaks, 10 defenders beaten, 236 metres ran and, of course, a whopping four tries.
There’s still work to be done on his decision-making on the ball, as there were times when he probably should have looked for the pass rather than go himself, but against such a weak defence, it didn’t matter as Bridge’s pace and finishing prowess shone.
After Saturday afternoon’s performance and their compelling display against the Wallabies at Eden Park, both he and Sevu Reece look set for starting roles on either win at the World Cup.
Loser – Rieko Ioane
On the flip side of Bridge’s outstanding form is the demotion of Rieko Ioane from the match day squad.
He burst onto the professional scene as an exciting young talent, and he looked as if he was going to fulfil that potential after a barnstorming season with the All Blacks in 2017.
He continued that through to last year, yielding back-to-back World Rugby Player of the Year nominations, but two quiet outings against the Springboks and Wallabies in recent weeks has seen him fall behind Bridge, who has taken his opportunities sublimely, in the national pecking order.
Having been dropped from the All Blacks’ last two tests – both matches of which Bridge was a standout in – it’s beginning to look more and more likely that Ioane won’t be a starting winger in the key World Cup matches, something that nobody would have envisaged even just a few months ago.
Winner – Ryan Crotty
A broken thumb sustained in the Crusaders’ 30-26 Super Rugby final win over the Hurricanes in June had ruled Crotty out of action up until last weekend, and consequently, he missed the All Blacks’ entire Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup campaigns.
Playing in his place was Ngani Laumape, who continued the impressive form that he had built throughout the past two years in Super Rugby and at test level.
So good was Laumape that many expected the blockbusting midfielder to win a spot in the All Blacks’ World Cup squad, but when he was dropped for Crotty, who hadn’t played a test in 2019 but won the nod due to his leadership, versatility and experience, questions were asked of Steve Hansen’s selection.
Those qualms were alleviated in Hamilton as Crotty made a strong, injury-free return to bag a brace of tries and set up another in a 65-minute outing that will give New Zealand fans some reassurance regarding Hansen’s World Cup selections.
Loser – Tonga
No doubt this test would have been marked as a special occasion for everyone in the Tongan squad, as it is a rarity for the ‘Ikale Tahi to play against tier one opposition, let alone the All Blacks.
However, getting romped by 85 points may have been a dampener on a sunny afternoon at Waikato Stadium, with their severe lack of fixtures against stronger opposition glaringly obvious.
That’s not a fault of theirs – the blame for that should lay on World Rugby’s shoulders – but after head coach Toutai Kefu revealed his side’s aspirations of scalping England, Argentina, France and the USA to make a maiden World Cup quarter-final appearance earlier in the week, this result is a reality check for Tonga before they head into the ‘Pool of Death’.
Winner – Josh Ioane
Josh Ioane voiced his frustrations of a false start to his test career after he wasn’t subbed on for a test debut against Argentina in the All Blacks’ Rugby Championship opener in July.
He was subsequently dropped from the reduced Bledisloe Cup squad and didn’t make the final World Cup side, but a minor shoulder injury to Richie Mo’unga paved the way for Ioane to make a brief return to the squad for the Tonga test.
Named on the bench again, he was rolled on in place of Beauden Barrett at half-time, and made an immediate impact as he assisted a George Bridge try right from the re-start and went on to set up a further three tries in a stunning test debut.
Loser – World Rugby rankings
The All Blacks may have just registered their biggest victory in 11 years, but they’ve lost their place as the world’s No. 1 side to Ireland, who picked up a 19-10 victory over Wales in Dublin over the weekend.
The world ranking system has come under plenty of criticism in recent times after New Zealand, Wales and now Ireland have all spent time at the summit of world rugby, despite the Welsh having not beaten the All Blacks since 1953, and Ireland falling well off the pace they set for themselves over the last couple of seasons.
The 92-7 spanking of Tonga was a big statement from Hansen’s men going into the World Cup, and they, along with England and South Africa, must surely be viewed as the three title favourites in Japan.
The world rankings aren’t representative of that, though, as it will be Ireland rather than any of those three teams who will go into the tournament with the No. 1 ranking.
If World Rugby want to maintain credibility within the global game, this is something that needs to be fixed.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 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)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments