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All Blacks player ratings vs Australia | Bledisloe Cup I
By Ben Smith
The All Blacks lost starting fullback Beauden Barrett to illness before kickoff but they came out firing in Sydney with 28 first half points.
Will Jordan scored within two minutes to set the mood and at 21-0 with tries to Rieko Ioane and Caleb Clarke, a massacre looked on the cards.
But the Wallabies scored two tries to Fraser McReight and Matt Faessler to stay in the game and the Wallabies mounted a big comeback to finish just short, 31-28.
Here's how the All Blacks rated in Sydney.
1. Ethan de Groot - 6
2. Codie Taylor - 8
The lineout functioned well for the most part with one overthrow error. Carried strongly in close and made a heap of tackles finishing with nine. All Blacks were exposed by a good lineout play at the tail by the Wallabies for the McReight try.
3. Tyrel Lomax - 7
The All Blacks scrum was less dominant then usual but Lomax still kept a clean sheet on his side, not losing any penalties.
4. Scott Barrett - 8
Lead pod runner for the All Blacks as they controlled the gain line well. Secured kickoffs well. Got through a load of defence with 12 tackles.
5. Tupou Vaa'i - 8
6. Wallace Sititi - 9
Another stellar showing by Sititi, strong carries powering the All Blacks' attack. Showed good footwork in close and used the space well out wide when on the left flank. Was a frequent lineout target for the All Blacks and disrupted many Australian throws. Had a clutch ruck penalty on the goal line in the final five minutes.
7. Sam Cane - 6
8. Ardie Savea - 8
Spent some time out in the wider channels on attack and looked dangerous. Had an offload to Reece go forward that will go down as a missed chance. Scored inside Reece on a breakaway. Added a ruck penalty with the Wallabies attacking inside the 22 in the second half. Carried hard in close with his signature leg drive back in action. Finished with 13 tackles.
9. Cortez Ratima - 9
Ratima was on fire at Accor, his best showing for the All Blacks so far in his young career. A try assist for Rieko Ioane running through tired ruck defenders a highlight in the first half. Looked dangerous with his snipes, showing strength through contact on multiple occasions. Beat seven defenders in total.
10. Damian McKenzie - 6
Lots of good but just lacking finish this afternoon. Kicking strategy early was a lot of high balls but they often went uncontested. Off the tee McKenzie was on. Had a nice strip steal on the Wallabies on the edge of the 22. Made most of his high ball takes in the backfield. Had a line break late in the first half but pass inside went astray. Bombed another half chance with an unnecessary back hand flick with Lienert-Brown in support. Another forward pass ruled out a stunning try to Ratima. His distribution inside the shape was tidy against a rather passive Wallabies defence.
11. Caleb Clarke - 7
Powerful runs all day. Started with a nice offload early to Wallace Sititi to create the half-break leading to the Ioane try. Scored with a power finish through two defenders on his first carry down the left flank. Had another great aerial take on one kick chase. Unfortunately gambled with an intercept in the final 10 and got a yellow.
12. Jordie Barrett - 8
One of his best showings this year. A lot of traffic came Barrett's way in defence and the launch attack hinged on the No 12. He ran hard and showed a nice array of passes in the midfield. Had a try disallowed late in the first half.
13. Rieko Ioane - 7
Scored his 37th Test try for the All Blacks with a run down the left wing like his younger days. Had line break on a launch play but the risky pass was intercepted. Taken into touch down a narrow channel on a counter-attack. Some nice touches in support as well.
14. Sevu Reece - 8
A classic intercept by Reece in the 24th minute to set up Ardie Savea. Reece broke through the cover defence and found his No 8 on the inside. A huge ruck penalty by Reece came in the final quarter, killing a key Wallabies possession. Off at 76.
15. Will Jordan - 9
Substitutes
16. Asafo Aumua - 4 - On at 62. Made his first throw. Had bad read in defence on Salakaia-Loto that led to Paisami's try.
17. Tamaiti Williams - On at 40. First scrum with Williams at loosehead was a penalty for the All Blacks. Had a strong carry near the line.
18. Pasilio Tosi - 4 - Made some powerful carries but was penalised for a high shot on Lolesio.
19. Sam Darry - 6 - On at 66. Lots of defence for Darry with seven tackles.
20. Luke Jacobson - 6 - On at 63. Seven tackles for Jacobson.
21. TJ Perenara - 7 - On at 57. First touch was a booming touch finder to clear the lines and relieve pressure. Charged on his next clearance. Finished the game by winning a tackle turnover to seal the game.
22. Anton Lienert-Brown - 5 - On at 40 for Barrett. Just didn't sync at second five as well as Barrett. Got yellow carded for team indiscretions. Seven tackles for Lienert-Brown.
23. Harry Plummer - N/A - On at 76. Made his debut but no chance to really impact the match.
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Latest Comments
But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
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