Wales player ratings vs New Zealand | Autumn Nations Series
Wales player ratings: Depleted Wales faced a Herculean task as they tackled New Zealand in their Autumn Nations Series opener at a sold-out Principality Stadium.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac was without 20 players – including a number of British and Irish Lions – due to injuries, illness and Gallagher Premiership-based personnel not being released by their clubs as the game fell outside World Rugby’s international window.
Fly-half half Gareth Anscombe returned to Test rugby following an absence of more than two years after being sidelined by a major knee injury, while skipper Alun Wyn Jones won his 149th cap, overtaking New Zealander Richie McCaw’s record for one country.
The All Blacks, unbeaten since 1953 against Wales, saw fly-half Beauden Barrett reach a century of Test match appearances.
Wales’ performance was full of heart but by the end, the All Blacks were putting on a clinic.
Wales player ratings:
15 JOHNNY MCNICHOLL – 6.5
The Christchurch native looked for cracks in the New Zealand defence but struggled to find them. The All Blacks were scintillating in counter-attack, and while you couldn’t fault McNicholl and co’s effort, as a unit they’re were overmatched.
14 OWEN LANE – 5.5
A crowd-pleasing run up the flank in the first half promised much, but the powerful winger largely stayed in lane. His failure to deal with a chip in behind triggered a Key Stone Cops moment in defence, with the Welsh cover literally tripping over each other in a vain attempt to deflect what was the game-deciding try.
13 JONATHAN DAVIES – 6
Relentless in his effort on both sides of the ball, even if his 33-year-old body doesn’t quite have the blockbusting abilities of old.
A comprehensive win for the All Blacks to kick off their end-of-year tour ? #AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/ER60laQ71V
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 30, 2021
12 JOHNNY WILLIAMS – 6
Lienert Brown and co were all over him early doors, with the Scarlet getting caught man and ball on several occasions thanks to at times telegraphed set plays from the men in red. Took his try brilliantly, a score that threw the hosts a much-needed lifeline, even if it was quickly snuffed out.
11 JOSH ADAMS – 6
The British & Irish Lions tourist was clearly eager to impose himself on the game and at times looked like he was close to boiling point.
10 GARETH ANSCOMBE – 5
Throwing an intercept to Beauden Barrett was the worst possible start for Anscombe, possible justifying fears that his return to Test rugby might have been rushed. He wasn’t his only error but to his credit, he didn’t totally self-combust. Priestland replaced him in the 46th minute, although whether that was a player welfare decision or shepherd’s crook, or a bit of both, was unclear.
9 TOMOS WILLIAMS – 8
Kicked exceptionally well from the base, testing the New Zealander’s fielding abilities and keeping their three-quarter line honest. The odd missed tackle blotted the copybook but he was Wales’ standout player.
1 WYN JONES – 6
Europe’s form loosehead initially struggled to gain the upper hand at set-piece and was kept relatively quiet in the loose.
2 RYAN ELIAS – 5
His lineout throwing wasn’t good enough and one of a number of players who fell off tackles as the All Blacks cranked up the physicality. Stayed in the fight though and kept on presenting himself for work even with the game ebbing away from Wales.
3 TOMAS FRANCIS – 6
The big prop fizzed with energy in the loose but the All Blacks scrum refused to yield to the giant Welshman.
4 ADAM BEARD – 5
Part of a malfunctioning Welsh lineout, which at times lapsed into complete failure and will be a major work on for Wales this week. An excellent technician but was found wanting when going toe-to-toe with the Retallick and Whitelock.
5 ALUN WYN JONES (C) – NA
Sadly removed from the action with what looked like a recurrence of the shoulder injury sustained against Japan in the summer.
6 ROSS MORIARTY – 6
As ever, a willing combatant but was forced off with what was either a broken collar bone or dislocated shoulder.
7 TAINE BASHAM – 8
Was up for the fight as one of Wales’ key carriers, with both sides breaking the gain line during fierce early exchanges. His pilfering was first class and was one of a handful of players that could make a claim to have bested his opposite number on the day.
8 AARON WAINWRIGHT – 7
Another bright spark in the Welsh back row and one of the few to boast a decent metreage in the first half.
REPLACEMENTS – 6
Will Rowland maybe struggled with the pace of the game, while Rhys Carre impressed when he came on. Wales also improved with Rhys Preistland behind the steering wheel before the late NZ onslaught.
– Additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments