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All Blacks player ratings vs Ireland | 1st Test July 2022

Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett. (Photo by Marty Melville/Photosport)

For the first time since 2012, Ireland touched down in New Zealand to search for a first-ever victory away from home against the All Blacks.

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Three wins from the previous five encounters ensured Ireland entered the match with as much confidence as they could ever hope for on a dry track at the All Blacks’ Eden Park fortress.

The visitors started the stronger side on the night, scoring the first try of the game but it didn’t take long for the All Blacks to respond through Jordie Barrett – and then pick up three more tries in the opening half. Ireland showed some starch in the second half, but they ultimately could wrangle back a rampant All Blacks side, with the game finishing 42-19 in New Zealand’s favour.

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All Blacks post-match press conference

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All Blacks post-match press conference

How did the winners rate on the night?

1. George Bower – 7.5
Part of a strong pack that generally had the better of their opposition – both at the scrum and the maul. Industrious on defence and a regular carrier of the ball. Penalised for not rolling away at the tackle in the 43rd minute, handing Ireland a five-metre lineout; they scored moments later.

2. Codie Taylor – 6
Generally accurate at lineout time and looked sharp with the ball in hand. Pinged for some offside defending to kick off the second half. Showed good awareness to grab a loose ball at the back of an Ireland lineout. Off in 55th minute.

3. Ofa Tuungafasi – 7
Had a ding-dong battle with Andrew Porter at scrum time but drew first and second blood in the penalty stakes. Smashed Tadgh Furlong in the 33rd minute, turning the ball over when Ireland were building some momentum on attack. Off in 55th minute.

4. Brodie Retallick – 6.5
Built into his work and never shied away from hitting breakdowns or ball-runners. Got his hands on an Irish lineout early in the third quarter to force a turnover as his final act of the game. Was the All Blacks’ busiest defender in his time on the park. Off in 63rd minute.

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5. Sam Whitelock – 8
An excellent showing in the game that saw him become the second most-capped All Black of all time. Made one integral breakdown clear-out in the 19th minute to ensure the All Blacks maintained possession. Often showed some nice hands as one of the link forwards in the backline – including in the lead-up to NZ’s first try. Was absurdly penalised for diving on the ball when it was still emerging from the ruck at one point, despite it being clearly well out of the breakdown already. Grabbed a breakdown turnover in the 67th minute and put pressure on the Irish lineout.

6. Scott Barrett – 7
Much of the pre-game talk surrounded Barrett’s selection on the blindside flank but it was a non-event, with the regular lock looking at home in the No 6 jersey. A nice moment early in the game saw Jordie Barrett carry the ball into the tackle with brothers Scott and Beauden clearing out the Irish forwards at the subsequent breakdown. Made one great chop tackle on Robbie Henshaw when Ireland were looking likely early doors. Copped a couple of penalties but topped the tackle charts for New Zealand.

 

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7. Sam Cane – 6
Made a couple of errors in the opening 10 minutes, kicking the ball forward at a breakdown and knocking on in the open field. Was the crucial first man to the breakdown when Leicester Fainga’nuku broke down the left-hand flank and was usually on hand to secure ruck ball. Off in 67th minute.

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8. Ardie Savea – 8
Dynamic. Followed up Aaron Smith’s sneaky break to score the All Blacks’ third try and then created and scored another with an outstanding run, stepping outside of Garry Ringrose and then bursting down the field for the five-pointer. Shifted to the blindside in the final quarter and also took over as captain once Cane departed. Didn’t shirk his defensive duties and reinforced his spot in the starting line-up.

9. Aaron Smith – 7.5
2 assists. An untidy first five minutes saw Smith knock the ball on at the base of one ruck and then cop a penalty at another for picking up a loose ball from an offside position. From that point on, however, Smith was all class. Threw a bullet pass for Jordie Barrett to grab NZ’s first try then a brilliant break, chip and chase from the ruck shortly before halftime created Savea’s try. Off in 60th minute.

10. Beauden Barrett – 7
Safe at first five, created a few chances for his teammates. Snuffed out a possible Ireland try with an excellently taken intercept while operating as the last defender then showed plenty of poise moments later to defuse another skirmish. Combined with Seve Reece in the 28th minute to bundle the ball-carrier into touch and shut down another Ireland attack. Put in an expertly weighted grubber kick to set up his team’s third score of the night. Some less than exceptional kicking – but that seems to be part of the All Blacks’ playbook.

11. Leicester Fainga’anuku – 6
Showed some good aerial skills in the formative stages of the match to win his team some possession. The first time he got both mitts on the ball, he was required to clear the ball from the All Blacks’ in-goal – and didn’t disappoint. Made a bollocking first run down the left wing to give NZ all the momentum and territory they needed for try numero uno. Certainly didn’t look out of place in test rugby without setting the world alight.

12. Quinn Tupaea – 7.5
Featured prominently in the first half but had less to do in the second. A good counter-ruck at the first breakdown almost earned his side some early possession and it was his effort in the 34th minute that did finally reap rewards at the breakdown for NZ. Showed nice hands to set up Fainga’anuku’s run en route to the All Blacks’ first try and then displayed perfect poise to pick up a Barrett grubber for the third. Will be generally very pleased with his display. Off in 60th minute.

13. Rieko Ioane – 6
Built slowly into the match. Had a few touches in the first half but had to be content with his teammates making the big plays. Prevented two almost certain tries towards the end of the third quarter with some brilliant instinctive defending. Off in 67th minute.

14. Sevu Reece – 8.5
Dangerous whenever he touched the ball. Somehow managed to temporarily hold out an early Ireland score with a wrap tackle on hooker Dan Sheehan. Cantered away for a brilliantly-taken try when the ball went to ground inside the All Blacks’ 22. Penalised for a knock forward but finished as the busiest tackler in the backline as well as clocking up the most run-metres.

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15. Jordie Barrett – 6.5
Barrelled over the line for the All Blacks’ first try. Bit in on James Lowe, leaving Ringrose unmarked on the outer edges for Ireland’s second score, and was then pinged at the very next kick-off for getting stuck in the breakdown. Nailed all six of his conversion attempts.

Reserves:

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 7
On in 55th minute. Carried with vigour – as was expected – but also got through plenty of work on defence, notching 13 tackles. Lost the ball with one carry.

17. Karl Tu’inukuafe – 6
On in 60th minute. Scrum dominance remained when the All Blacks brought their reserve props into the mix. Handed an outrageous yellow card for not rolling away from the breakdown – despite being nowhere near it.

18. Angus Ta’avao – 6.5
On in 55th minute. Matched Tuungafasi’s early efforts at the scrum.

19. Pita Gus Sowakula – 7
On in 63rd minute. Knocked the ball on with his first touch but got over the line from the back of a dominant scrum to mark a memorable debut. Grabbed one lineout steal.

20. Dalton Papalii – N/A
On in 67th minute.

21. Finlay Christie – 6
On in 60th minute. Kept the flow of the game going.

22. Richie Mo’unga
On in 60th minute. Missed touch with his first penalty kick to the sidelines.

23. Braydon Ennor – N/A
On in 67th minute.

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Comments

7 Comments
n
neil 855 days ago

I would have thought that the first Irish win in Chicago would be classed as away from home.

J
Jmann 856 days ago

one wonders if the author was watching the same game?

J
Jack 856 days ago

ennor deserves a 3/10. All the irish attacks were down to him missing his tackle.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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