Wallabies v All Blacks - Player Ratings
Few would have expected the absolute drubbing that the Wallabies handed to the All Blacks in last night’s Bledisloe Cup match.
The Wallabies started with great impetus and looked more than up for the match. It was a late red card to Scott Barrett in the first half that will likely dominate the discussion in the coming days, but that undervalues just how good Australia were.
The All Blacks had to dig deep in the second with just 14 men on the field, but they weren’t able to match up to the Wallabies’ continued intensity. Ultimately, the Wallabies prevailed 47-26 – equalling their previous biggest win over the All Blacks. This match marked the most points that New Zealand have ever conceded in a match and the kiwis will be desperate to bounce back at Eden Park next weekend.
All that being said, how did the two teams rate?
Wallabies
1. Scott Sio 6/10
Didn’t take a step back in the scrums and was busy in the breakdowns. Put in a good shift.
2. Tolu Latu – 7
Always willing to truck the ball up and was difficult to take down – kept the ball alive when necessary. No issues at the lineout or with discipline. Could this performance earn him the 2 jersey moving forward?
3. Alan Alaalatoa – 7
Strong carries and reliable in the scrums, earning a penalty against Joe Moody. Made 9 tackles but one bad miss on Dane Coles led to Rieko Ioane’s try.
4. Izack Rodda – 6
The big man made good metres with ball in hand and was reliable in the lineouts. Didn’t assert his presence as much as he could have, especially once the All Blacks lost a man.
5. Rory Arnold – 5.5
Safe but underwhelming. Is this really the best that the Wallabies have?
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 5
Made way too many mistakes early on in the match but regularly trucked the ball up. Not the answer at 6 for the Wallabies.
7. Michael Hooper – 7
Didn’t stand out as much in the loose as you’d expect in a try-fest. Still managed to run for 48 metres with the ball. Made a clutch steal in the 67th minute to stall any building New Zealand momentum. Marshalled his troops well.
8. Isi Naisarani – 6.5
All Blacks struggled to bring the big man to the ground, trucked the ball up very efficiently.
9. Nic White – 8.5
Great speed and passion from the surprise selection. Commanded his forwards and made sure the Wallabies never stopped pushing the All Blacks. Played a big part in keeping the game high-octane. One of the players of the match.
10. Christian Lealiifano – 7
Showed more of a running game than we’re used to. Kicked when he needed to kick but was tidy when taking the ball to the line too. Missed few tough kicks at goal.
11. Marika Koroibete – 6
Started well with a good kick and chase that put the All Blacks under pressure. Scored a sneaky forwards’ try but otherwise failed to get himself involved in the game too much. Needed to go looking for work.
12. Samu Kerevi – 9
A hugely dominant display from the burly midfielder – came of age. Bowled through All Blacks for fun. Skipped past Smith and wrecked Barrett for an excellent try assist. Did botch one try in the 25th minute, when he failed to pass the ball to an unmarked man on the wing. More than made up for it elsewhere.
13. James O’Connor – 6.5
Created the Wallabies’ first try with a fend on Goodhue and a sneaky offload. Threw the last pass for late Wallabies try. Looked composed – good enough to start again next week.
14. Reece Hodge – 7
The best winger on display, despite a few errors. Regularly hit the line with great intent, clocked up the second most metres run of any player on the field and useful under the high ball. Good distance from penalty kicks, too.
15. Kurtley Beale – 7
Botched a try in the same set of phases as Kerevi and had a fairly quiet first half. Came alive as the Wallabies got ascendancy and helped keep his team humming. Snaked his way through the All Blacks’ defence to score at the death. Top metre eater with 96 to his name.
16. Folau Fainga’a – 4.5
17. James Slipper – 4
18. Taniela Tupou – 7
19. Adam Coleman – 7
20. Luke Jones – N/A
21. Will Genia – 5
22. Matt To’omua – 6
23. Tom Banks – N/A
All Blacks
1. Joe Moody – 5
Penalised once at the scrum. Called upon to make a number of tackles and didn’t disappoint in that regard.
2. Dane Coles – 7.5
Bad miss early on Samu Kerevi – but not the only All Blacks to fail to bring the big man down. Made a brilliant run down the left flank to set up Rieko Ioane’s try.
3. Owen Franks – 5.5
Similar story to Moody. Solid on defence with 11 tackles to his name, but having one less defender on the field made it a difficult night for the less mobile props.
4. Scott Barrett – 1
Made 10 tackles in half a game of rugby, which isn’t a bad result. Perhaps the All Blacks would have lost regardless of Barrett’s red card, but that should be no consolation. Cost his team any chance at a victory.
5. Sam Whitelock – 6.5
Busy on defence with 18 tackles and safe in the lineouts. Didn’t make any of his trademark runs and was surprisingly subbed late in the match – probably because he was absolutely spent. Hit a lot of breakdowns.
6. Ardie Savea – 7
Conceded two early penalties though was probably unlucky with one. Played with six on his back, but was used in the lineouts and also packed down at 8 in the scrums. Stood up late in the game with some powerful runs. Loses points for his stupid push on the back of Hooper’s head – that’s the kind of stupid penalty that could decide a game decider.
7. Sam Cane – 5.5
Showed heart to attempt to chase Nic White down for his try. Subbed immediately afterwards – probably not dynamic enough to be on the field when his side’s a man down, but that’s true of most forwards. Tackled his heart out.
8. Kieran Read – 7.5
The everywhere man. Answered a lot of questions asked of him but still not back to his best. Had to lock down in the scrums after Barrett’s red card. Made a potential try-saving tackle on Hooper late in the piece. Bad decision late in the game to tap penalty instead of kicking for the lineout. Topped the tackle charts with 21 to his name.
9. Aaron Smith – 5
Rode the pine against South Africa and didn’t really do enough this week to cement his spot as the starting halfback. Not easy being a halfback when your team has no ball, however.
10. Richie Mo’unga – 7
Mixed up his game well and took the ball to the line with great efficiency in the second half. Looked far more assured this week. Also made a try-saving tackle on Kerevi.
11. Rieko Ioane – 4
Very nearly gifted the Wallabies a try, quiet game on attack otherwise. Worrying signs – that’s two poor weeks in a row.
12. Anton Lienert-Brown – 8
Took his chances – scored a good try because of it following through on Jack Goodhue’s kick. Always dangerous and such a reliable defender, making the most tackles of any back on the field. Got caught out running sideways one time too many.
13. Jack Goodhue – 4
Bad miss early almost cost the ABs points and wasn’t able to nail James O’Connor shortly after, which created the Wallabies’ first try. Moments later put in an excellent kick to create the All Blacks’ first. Injured early and may not be available for a few weeks.
14. Ben Smith – 6
Shut down Wallabies attack early in the second half when they had an overlap, otherwise fairly quiet. Doesn’t offer the same spark of old but still very reliable. Unfortunately, reliability doesn’t win matches when you’ve got one fewer man on the field. 9 tackles.
15. Beauden Barrett – 5.5
Spent most of the first half on defence. Absolutely destroyed by Samu Kerevi but then launched through the Wallabies line to score a try for the All Blacks.
16. Codie Taylor – 6
17. Atu Moli – 5
18. Angus Ta’avao – 4.5
19. Patrick Tuipulotu – 4.5
20. Matt Todd – 5
21. TJ Perenara – 5
22. Ngani Laumape – 6.5
Safe on defence, but a quiet game on attack until the 71st minute when he scored a miracle try.
23. George Bridge – 5.5
Comments on RugbyPass
He seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
3 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
15 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
15 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
3 Go to comments00 😍 U
1 Go to commentsSabbaticals have helped keep NZ’s very best talent in the country on long term deals - this fact has been left out of this article. Much like the articles calling to allow overseas players to be selected, yet can only name one player currently not signed to NZR who would be selected for the ABs. And in the entire history of NZ players leaving to play overseas, literally only 4 or 5 have left in their prime as current ABs. (Piatau, Evans, Hayman, Mo’unga,?) Yes Carter got an injury while playing in France 16 years ago, but he also got a tournament ending injury at the 2011 World Cup while taking mid-week practice kicks at goal. Maybe Jordie gets a season-ending injury while playing in Ireland, maybe he gets one next week against the Brumbies. NZR have many shortcomings, but keeping the very best players in the country and/or available for ABs selection is not one of them. Likewise for workload management - players missing 2 games out of 14 is hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Again let’s use some facts - did it stop the Crusaders winning SR so many times consecutively when during any given week they would be missing 2 of their best players? The whole idea of the sabbatical is to reward your best players who are willing to sign very long term deals with some time to do whatever they want. They are not handed out willy-nilly, and at nowhere near the levels that would somehow devalue Super Rugby. In this particular example JB is locked in with NZR for what will probably (hopefully) be the best years of his career, hard to imagine him not sticking around for a couple more after for a Lions tour and one more world cup. He has the potential to become the most capped AB of all time. A much better outcome than him leaving NZ for a minimum of 3 years at the age of 27, unlikely to ever play for the ABs again, which would be the likely alternative.
3 Go to commentsJake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
15 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
15 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
39 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
39 Go to comments