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Wales player ratings vs New Zealand

By Liam Heagney
Ben Smith hands off Wales' Tomos Williams to score New Zealand's fourth try in Tokyo (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

In the end, the match that no one wanted wasn’t short on its entertainment value but the pity for Wales – who were seeking a first win over the All Blacks since 1953 in Warren Gatland’s last match in charge – was that the frills mostly came from New Zealand who went on to clinch the World Cup bronze medal with a comfortable 40-17 win in Tokyo.

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Despite making a multitude of changes to freshen up a Welsh XV that had a day less to recover from its semi-final defeat, Gatland’s side damagingly looked leggy for periods of this six tries to two defeat. 

They did exhibit some gas and enjoyed creativity when recovering from a tentative start, reducing the 14-point deficit that was registered by the 13th minute to just four points by the 27th minute.

However, they ultimately slipped off too many first-half tackles. Twenty-one were missed in a low 72 per cent tackle success rate (53/74) and the concession of two tries in the lead up to the interval – followed by another quickly in the second half – meant there was no comeback from a worrying 35-10 situation. 

A never-say-die attitude did manage to stem the onslaught and they had the fillip of Josh Adams getting over for his seventh try of the finals. 

(Continue reading below…)

But even then it was New Zealand who had the last say, Richie Mo’unga scoring to round off the victory for the departing Steve Hansen in his sideline battle with fellow Kiwi Gatland. Here’s how RugbyPass rated the Welsh performance: 

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15. Hallam Amos – 6/10 

Demonstrated an appetite for a good carry and beating a defender, a contribution highlighted by one canter after Wales had fallen 0-7 behind. He then popped up to excellently finish for Wales’ only first-half try. Wasn’t immune to errors, though. There were some missed tackles and his kick-out on the full on 50 minutes was another example. 

14. Owen Lane – 4

With most of the first-half action going on away from him, his restricted carry was compounded by some missed tackles when the play did come his way. Showed up more in the second half but by then the damage was done for Wales. 

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13. Jonathan Davies – 4

First-half passed him by as he was rather anonymous on both sides of the ball. Same could be largely said for the second-half also. Simply wasn’t the Davies who had been so prominent at these finals. 

12. Owen Watkin – 5

Initially provided a bit of muscle in this role and mostly kept Sonny Bill Williams quiet until near the end of a first-half when the Kiwi opened up a box of tricks that also saw him provide the assist for the fifth try following the interval. Watkin did make some good yardage in traffic but it wasn’t enough and he was gone for Hadleigh Parkes on 62 minutes.  

11. Josh Adams – 8 

The star Welsh contributor. He ran like the breeze and did so many things efficiently and effectively. Agonisingly short of a try on 16 minutes, but he showed his easy-on-the-eye fluency with a delightful catch to prevent a Mo’unga penalty touch finder going out of play. A 51st minute pass that failed to find Justin Tipuric showed his frustration but that was alleviated eight minutes later with his well-finished pick-and-go try.  

10. Rhys Patchell – 5

Mixed bag from the out-half who struggles to fully convince at this level. One early soft dropped pass contributed to the sense of unease in the Welsh performance and while it was his fabulous slick pass that got Amos in for his 19th-minute try, the meek manner in which he was blasted away and possession turned over at a ruck for the third New Zealand try was more in keeping with his effort. Exited on 47 minutes for Dan Biggar with Wales 35-10 down. 

9. Tomos Williams – 5 

Provided welcome energy with the ball, mixing up his passing with a hunger to have a cut and make some yardage. What let him down was his tackling, a shortcoming epitomised when he was handed off in the face by Ben Smith for New Zealand’s fourth try. Hooked for Gareth Davies on 47 minutes.  

1. Nicky Smith – 5 

Will have enjoyed the Welsh scrum overly doing okay in the opening half. One of his pack’s busiest tacklers, it was lack of a carry that left him down as illustrated by what his opposite number Joe Moody managed in his try-scoring effort. Was gone from the fray for Rhys Carre as soon as New Zealand scored their fifth try.    

2. Ken Owens – 4 

Looked tired and off the pace. Fell off too many tackles, including one early in the move for New Zealand’s second try. It was also his needless concession of a penalty at a ruck that provided the Kiwis the possession and territory to hatch their fourth try. Lost throw at start of second half then gave then opposition the impetus for fifth try. It was his last act. 

3. Dillon Lewis – 5  

Showed good attitude while he was on. Led a good scrum platform and was eager to pop up and carry. What left him down was his missed tackles. 

4. Adam Beard – 4

Left completely in the shade by the contribution of his opposite number, Brodie Retallick. He bought the switch play that resulted in Beauden Barrett’s uninterrupted run to the try line for New Zealand’s second try. Briefly improved when Wales rallied but wasn’t up to the level here. 

5. Alun Wyn Jones – 7

Showed influential leadership by opting not to kick penalties and instead direct them to touch with Wales down by 14 points in the early stages. Was rewarded with a ten-point surge but that was as good as it got. Huge contribution with his tackling and was the deserved recipient of a standing ovation when taken off on 56 minutes.    

6. Justin Tipuric – 5

Was busy but his effort lacked the necessary precision that Wales greatly needed. An example of that was a sloppy transfer of ball off the top following a lineout catch near the end of the first half. Had a better second period, lifting the pressure with an excellent break on 55 minutes. 

7. James Davies – 6

He topped the Welsh tackle chart but will rue the miss where he was left flailing when Ben Smith cantered to the line to score in the first half. Offered himself in the carry but his best moments were about trying to stop New Zealand.   

8. Ross Moriarty – 4

Poor effort from the No8 was encapsulated by how he allowed lineout ball slip through his hands with the score balanced at 10-14 and Wales on a gallop after being 14 points down. Eventually pulled just seven minutes into the second half for Aaron Shingler. 

WATCH: Jamie Roberts sits down with RugbyPass in this episode of Rugby World Cup Memories 

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Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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