Tri Nations: New Zealand player ratings vs Australia
New Zealand were looking to seal the deal on this year’s Bledisloe Cup but the Australia team were relishing their first home test match of the year at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
The wet conditions looked difficult after a rainy day and it played into the All Blacks‘ hands. On a day where you rely on generals to run the cutter, the two Wallaby debutantes at 10 and 12, Lolesio and Simone, were no match for the wise heads dressed in black. Conversely, the All Blacks kept the errors low and looked cohesive, powerful and dominant with the final score falling 43-5 in the Kiwis’ favour.
How did the All Blacks players rate on the night?
1. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 6.5/10
“I’ve got this,” said Big Karl in the 8th minute with three players outside him. Lucky it was wet and slippery and he grabbed the try. Dropped a ball cold minutes later. Renowned for his scrummaging but couldn’t shift the Aussie scrum. Off at 44.
2. Dane Coles – 7
Set-piece was not perfect but around the field he was typically Coles-like. Hit Nic White with a big tackle in the 9th minute then moments later Coles lapped the still stunned White for a disallowed try. Got a try in the trunk though. Off at 44.
3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi – 6.5
James Slipper seemed to get the better of him for a second week in a row. He has lost a little of his scintillating form from earlier this season but still our best at 3. The ABs scrum got their first scrum penalties at 53 and 57 minutes after numbers 1 and 2 were replaced. Big Ofa was off himself in the 58th minute, maybe a rest next week before NZ take on Argentina?
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 6.5
Wasn’t a big carrying day for Paddy, he couldn’t get the ball out of Sam Whitelock’s mitts! Solid in the trenches, off at 55.
5. Sam Whitelock – 9
Great to have the old warrior back, he played out of his skin. One of his best matches for the All Blacks. Carried like a donkey on steroids, amazing turnover with long arms at 48 minutes. To show how tireless he was, he got back and caught a loose ball from Hunter Paisami that led to Jordie Barrett’s try.
6. Shannon Frizell – 8
Carried well and top tackler for the All Blacks. Seems to be reading the game really well defensively; important for a 6 and making the spot his own. Weird he wasn’t used as a lineout option after being the All Black’s best in the first two tests of the year.
7. Sam Cane – 7
Didn’t get to the heights of the first two tests this year and wandered off at 67 after a nasty hit. Seemed to relish the lifting of the trophy and has led well.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 7.5
Got his chance to start and again looked right at home. Good starchy tackle first up, very active in the lineout and had some good assists, pushing big Karl over and a lovely pass to Rieko for his try.
9. Aaron Smith – 6.5
Went back to metronomic distribution, didn’t dabble around the ruck or maul. Turned over at start of the 2nd half that led to Lolesio try. Off at 55.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 9
The conductor became soloist in the 22nd minute with a wonderful weaving run and try. Then nabbed a second and narrowly missed out on the third. Showed what he can do behind a dominant pack, a la Crusaders. Great kicking from the tee as well.
11. Caleb Clarke – 7
With the comparisons with Lomu from last week, it seemed as though the Wallabies wanted to see if he had the goods under the high ball. He coped ok. Denied a try by a Marika Koroibete defensive missile after getting on to the right wing.
12. Jack Goodhue – 6
Used his left kicking foot to good effect in lead up to Coles’ try. Blew his chance for a try after a difficult pass. Missed the first tackle on Jordan Petaia, turned over by Filipo Daugunu as well. Must be under pressure from Laumape and Ioane for a start next week.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown – 7.5
Was classy throughout the game. Some big, assertive tackles, nice snipes down the left and right wings and did the right thing at the right time. Would love to see the ALB/Rieko combo next week.
14. Jordie Barrett – 7
Who said 13 was unlucky? It was 14 in this test, with both Daugunu and Jordie getting early yellows. Pretty anonymous until his try in the 75th minute where he hit the line at full speed and showed some velocity after a full wind up.
15. Beauden Barrett – 8
Oozed class from his first touch. Perfect illustration of two playmakers working well in 27th min, with Beaudy at first receiver chipping over the Australian line for Richie Mo’unga’s 2nd try. Off at 65.
Reserves
16. Codie Taylor – 7
On in 44th and put in a long shift. Scrum improved when he came on and was busy on defence.
17. Alex Hodgman – 6.5
On in 44th minute, first carry got turned over but he really is an ox at the scrum and contact area. Also threw a sloppy pass at one stage that reflected the ABs going off the boil in the third quarter.
18. Tyrel Lomax – 7
On in 58th minute and really tried hard and accumulated 8 tackles in a quarter of rugby. Scrum continued to tick on well after his introduction. Well done.
19. Scott Barrett – 6
On in 55th minute. Is he ready for a start next week?
20. Dalton Papalii – N/A
On in 67th minute.
21. TJ Perenara – N/A
On in 55th minute. Scrappy game probably suited the halfback.
22. Ngani Laumape – 6.5
On at 60, did what he does well. Arrow straight runs, a small error with no arms tackle.
23. Rieko Ioane – 7.5
On at 65. Just great to see him with ball in hand. Ignored his outside runner on first run but reset well. Good combination with Sotutu for his try.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
12 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.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments