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All Blacks player ratings vs Ireland | 2nd Test July 2022
By Sam Smith
Having dominated the All Blacksā in Dublin in recent times, Ireland were brought back to earth with a big loss in Auckland last weekend.
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Ireland had never won a match against the All Blacks in New Zealand and after last Saturdayās result, a similar match was expected in Dunedin tonight.
That couldnāt have been farther from the truth, however, and the Irish rushed out of the blocks to score their first try just minutes after kick-off. With discipline costing the All Blacks poorly ā three players were sent from the field for varying lengths of time ā the home side just couldnāt find their way back into the game and Ireland were able to record a historic 23-12 victory.
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How did the All Blacks rate in the defeat?
1. George Bower ā 5/10
Missed a couple of tackles early in the match but unlike his fellow props, managed to maintain his discipline. Was under the pump when the All Blacks went down to a seven-man scrum but Ireland failed to take advantage. Made a great linebreak in the second spell but held onto the ball when the offload was on and had no support on the ground. Off in 64th minute.
2. Codie Taylor ā 3
After an impressive start to the year for the Crusaders and in last weekās test, Taylor regressed to the standards of last year. Couldnāt get his running game going at all and looked passive on defence on more than one occasion, most notably when Ireland scored their first try of the game. Relatively safe at lineout time, to his credit. Off in 57th minute.
3. Ofa Tuungafasi ā 3
Carried regularly but struggled elsewhere. Missed the tackle on Tadhg Beirne that gave Ireland some key early-game possession. Was rightly yellow-carded for an early tackle on Garry Ringrose when a try looked likely. A loose carry in the second half saw the All Blacks cough up possession when they were hot on attack. Tuungafasi was penalised at the resultant scrum and then copped an offside penalty from Irelandās ensuing attack (and a further penalty at the next scrum). Not a great day at the office ā especially without the ball ā and will surely make way for Nepo Laulala in next weekendās decider.
4. Brodie Retallick ā 6.5
Caused a few issues at maul time for Ireland, disrupting a number of attempted drives. Was ostensibly a bit overzealous in one instance and was pinged for jumping over the line. Rarely used as an offensive jumper by the All Blacks but made up for it with his work across the park. Carried with vigour and threw his body into countless breakdowns. Off in 45th minute for an HIA then returned 10 minutes later.
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5. Scott Barrett ā 7
6/7 lineout. 2 lineout steals. Massive at the lineout for the All Blacks. Lost one NZ throw but managed to steal two from the opposition ā in both instances, when Ireland were looking dangerous. Like his locking partner, played with plenty of energy in a pack that had to cope with one fewer man than their opposition for much of the game.
6. Dalton Papalii ā 5.5
Didnāt look quite at home in the enforcer role he suggested he had to bring to the match earlier in the week. Looked good when standing wider and was able to use his feet to get around opposition but doesnāt have the physical presence needed in the No 6 jersey ā especially once Ardie Savea left the park. Copped an unlucky penalty early doors for going beyond the ruck with his clear-out. Useful at lineout time. Spent some time off the park in the first half during the card-fest.
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7. Sam Cane ā 7
Put in a massive shift in the 20-minute period before halftime when the All Blacks first lost men to the bin. Was already in double figures on the tackle count by when the second spell kicked off and also got through tireless work at the breakdown. As with his flanker partner, need to bring more to his carry game when Savea left the park. Pinged once for getting offside.
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8. Ardie Savea ā 6
Barely featured in the first half hour on attack, with the All Blacks playing with little ball to their name. Left the field in the 33rd minute due to the red card protocols and was oddly barred from returning. Will be fired up next week.
9. Aaron Smith ā 5
Offered quick service at the breakdown but his kicking game left much to be desired and couldnāt spark the All Blacks attack like last weekend. Off in 63rd minute.
10. Beauden Barrett ā 6
Scored the All Blacksā first try right before halftime with a sneaky fly-kick on near the try line, and showed great poise and awareness to dot the ball down. His kicking game wasnāt exactly on the money ā but you suspect thatās a strategic issue more than a skillset issue. Grabbed a crucial intercept when Ireland were looking likely. Off in 57th minute.
11. Leicester Faingaāanuku ā 4.5
Sin-binned in his second test for a dangerous charge-down attempt. Rushed up expertly when Ireland had a scrum inside the All Blacksā 22 with just five backs to defend with but was caught out once or twice later in the match. Had the ball dislodged when carrying deep inside his own half, handing Ireland prime attacking ball. Off in 50th minute.
12. Quinn Tupaea ā 5
Busy on defence and was regularly used to truck the ball up in the midfield. Couldnāt bring down Porter when the prop hit the line hard from five metres out. Had a few issues with his hands throughout the game. Not as strong a performance as last week ā but the same could be said for almost every NZ player on the park.
13. Rieko Ioane ā 6
Looked incisive when he got the ball in his hands in the formative stages of the game. Fell out of the game in the middle period and perhaps wasnāt distributing as well as the All Blacks would have hoped. Stripped in the final minute of the game to end the All Blacksā final attack.
14. Sevu Reece ā 5
Showed off his dancing feet but struggled to get involved on attack. Snared a good breakdown steal early in the second half.
15. Jordie Barrett ā 6.5
Was put under plenty of pressure from the Irish kickers but struck a composed figure in the backfield. Made one linebreak but an ankle tap brought the tall timber crashing to the ground. Put on a nice sidestep to send Will Jordan away on the right wing. Otherwise, couldnāt really get his running game going.
Reserves:
16. Samisoni Taukeiāaho ā 6.5
On in 57th minute. Per usual, added plenty of impetus with his ball-carrying.
17. Aidan Ross ā N/A
On in 33rd minute for two uncontested scrums then joined as a permanent replacement half an hour later.
18. Angus Taāavao ā 2
On in 26th minute. Won his side a crucial scrum penalty and was then sent off moments later following a dangerous tackle.
19. Patrick Tuipulotu ā N/A
On in 45th minute for 10 minutes with Retallick temporarily sidelined. On permanently in 74th minute.
20. Pita Gus Sowakula ā N/A
On in 70th minute. Dropped a wide ball stone cold.
21. Folau Fakatava ā 5
On in 63rd minute. Showed signed of his speed but was also a little aimless at times.
22. Richie Moāunga ā 4
On in 57th minute. Couldnāt assert himself on the match at first receiver.
23. Will Jordan ā 5
On in 50th minute. Generally struggled to get involved
Hard to comment on playerās personal performance when itās obvious that they are coached but a muppet. No game at all, box kick mid field is about it for set piece moves. Having a game plan that hinges on show pony play or individual play is not a team game planā¦ what happens when you donāt get the individual performanceā¦ you loose. B Barrett is honestly the worst 10 on planet for steering a team when the balls slow, terrible kicking, bad decisions allowing Irish to do what they do best. Whatās wrong with plugging the corner, thereās such a think as 50-22 now that rewards that corner targeted kicking game. Not once in two matches, just dumb rugby, no actual readers of the game in ABs at this timeā¦. Frustrating but true
He is a very skilful player who doesn't play like that for the Blues, on some level you have to think he is following a very ill conceived game plan rather than just "kicking aimlessly" as everyone seems to think.
I haven't seen any kiwi teams even trying to use the 50-22. A devistating weapon and with such skillful kickers as ours, we should be using it to turn the opponents around when the running game isn't working (like now)
Well, perhaps Cane was the best NZ loosie on the paRK - but only when he was the only NZ loosie on the park. Canāt fault him for effort, but he was outplayed by his opposites and by Savea. Papalii wasnāt at his best, but he was out of position, so thereās that. Interesting the backs only started to get some advantage once Moāunga came on. Barrettās (and NZs) kicking game was very poor - would have very much improved with Mounga, Havilli and Jordan as starters.
What happens when the ABs fail to get momentum from set piece? Because that's what happened today with Whitelock missing, Ofa and at sub-par and Ardie's omission. Usually, they would resort to momentum from the counter; so why didnt Will Jordan get onto 15, and Tuipulotu get on to release Scott to 6, Papalii to 7 and Sam Cane to the bench, at some point in the last quarter?!!
Codie taylor absolutely awful, hasnt had a good game at hooker for all blacks.
He's been out of form for about 3 years now. Seems to be the unquestionable starter without having put in a good performance for a long time.
Ioane has seemingly lost his carry speed, doesn't offer any kicking threat and doesn't like passing - Goodhue should get a chance now
The name of the person wearing 13 for the All Blacks is completely irrelevant at this point, and would have zero influence on the outcome of any game. You could take any Super Rugby or even NPC centre and put them in the black 13 and it wouldn't effect the All Blacks at all. They are so far off the pace of the top teams at the moment. I think Ireland would have found the Highlanders or Hurricanes just as easy to beat.
Ioane was faaaaar from the problem tonight. Thought he actually played alright all things considering. And I say this as someone that was not sold on Ioane at centre until this season.
Goodhue's pace is way down since his injury.
You want to replace Iaone with Goodhue who is one hamstrjng away from having no hamstrings š
Calling out Ioane for losing carry speed, and then putting Goodhue as the suggested replacement is hilarious lol
Papali'i and Cane were awful. Don't know how Cane got a 7, no threat at ruck time, no carry threat, sure he can tackle but so can most club-level opensides. Papai'i looked like he'd wandered onto the field by mistake. Barret into 6, Savea at 7 and Sowakula, Sotutu or even Cullen Grace at 8 would be better for the future
Sowakula isn't ABs standard. Like the guy, but he isn't the solution.
Just no šš