Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

All Blacks XV player ratings vs Japan XV

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 08: Stephen Perofeta of All Blacks XV celebrates with teammates after the team's first try during the international test between Japan XV and All Blacks XV at Prince Chichibu Memorial Ground on July 8, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

An entrรฉe to the mouthwatering serving of international rugby on this weekend, the All Blacks XV squad featured more than a handful of players with All Blacks experience and World Cup ambitions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Motivated and coached by future All Blacks assistant Leon MacDonald, the All Blacks XV faced a Japan XV side led by the great Michael Leitch.

Japanโ€™s superbly executed rush defensive line was the story of the first half, the pressure was felt by the All Blacks XV and forced mistakes making for a low-scoring affair in the opening 40.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

The second half promised a more dynamic game and the New Zealand side capitalised, building momentum and adjusting to the line speed with deeper attack lines that allowed their X-factor players to make meters through one on one attack.

In the end, the All Blacks XV pulled away for a 38-6 win with a number of players showing Ian Foster and co they are ready for a crack at the World Cup should injuries sideline any current All Blacks squad members.

Related

Hereโ€™s how the All Blacks XV rated:

1. Xavier Numia โ€“ 6

Ill discipline cost his side early and rewarded Japan with their first scoring opportunity of the match. Numiaโ€™s athleticism didnโ€™t get a chance to shine in the match but his work in tight was physical and clean.

ADVERTISEMENT

2. Ricky Riccitelli โ€“ 7

Riccitelli was hungry to get involved across the park. The hooker brought intent to his work around the set piece and executed well throughout his time on the park.

3. Jermaine Ainsley โ€“ 7

Ainsley positioned himself well on defence, while the locks rushed up to make first contact on Japanโ€™s big ball runners, Ainsley waited an extra moment and hit hard to drive Japan backwards. The former Wallaby was strong in his scrummaging, winning the battle up front.

4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi โ€“ 9

Ah Kuoi brought the intensity from the Haka. His defence stood out early as he was quick off the line and physical in wrapping up the Japanese players. Perhaps got a bit excited when he was penalised for jumping across the lineout. The lockโ€™s composure came through in his work around the ruck, not rushing himself but taking that extra little moment to position himself well and execute a hearty clearout.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Chiefs forward was an absolute workhorse on the night and he proved his fitness by maintaining his impressive effort throughout the full 80 minutes.

5. Quinten Strange โ€“ 8.5

The locks had a clear assignment on defence to get off the line and hit Japanโ€™s runners early, they werenโ€™t seeking out a dominant hit but taking the sting out of the run for their support to lend a heavy shoulder or contest at the breakdown. Strange was more than up for that challenge.

An inaccurate cleanout allowed Japan to steal a ball when the All Blacks XV had their first real scoring opportunity of the game. Strangeโ€™s lineout nous stifled Japanโ€™s momentum early in the second half.

6. Akira Ioane โ€“ 8

Struggled with ball in hand in the tighter channels early but made the most of his runs out wide. Ioaneโ€™s footwork and physicality was a handful for the Japan outside backs, the All Black shrugged off and stepped a number of defenders with each carry. He warmed into the game and by the end had found a nice balance of dirty work and X-factor.

7. Duโ€™Plessis Kirifi โ€“ 7.5

Kirifi was at his opportunistic best early, stealing the ball when Japan were just five meters out. He continued to pressure the breakdown throughout and got decent reward, winning his side the ball on multiple occasions. Kirifiโ€™s relentless defensive efforts were impressive but the flanker was generally quieter on that side of the ball than what weโ€™ve come to expect from him in a Hurricanes uniform as he was fulfilling a different defensive role.

8. Christian Lio-Willie โ€“ 7

As they did during the Super Rugby Pacific season, Lio-Willieโ€™s runs put his side on the front foot and the All Blacks XV capitalised early. The No 8โ€™s agility was utilised on defence as well.

9. Brad Weber โ€“ 7

The All Blacks XV attack was thrown off by Japanโ€™s rush defence, Weber adjusted accordingly and traded his familiar little step before the pass to a snappy delivery from the bottom of the ruck. The halfbackโ€™s defence around the scrum was a difference-maker and initiated some All Blacks XV momentum early in the second half.

10. Stephen Perofeta โ€“ 7.5

The playmaker was caught indecisive on his first touch off the lineout move, turning the ball over. He showed glimpses of great defence, clinging onto Japanโ€™s dangerous backs around the bootlaces. Perofeta scored the first try of the game with a well-run line and pace just 10 meters out. He broke the Japanese line with an ambitious run from near his own line just moments later. The flyhalfโ€™s clearances were well executed and he kept the scoreboard ticking over when scoring opportunities were hard to come by.

11. Etene Nanai-Seturo โ€“ 8.5

Uncharacteristically passive in his first contact in the game but was far from shy after. Nanai-Seturo has excellent habits on the pitch, bouncing instantly back to his feet and seeking a second effort every time the ball comes his way. Ankle breakers were back on the menu for the winger who was electric in his carries.

The former Sevens star finished perhaps the most unorthodox try youโ€™ll see after a woefully executed attack play saw the ball left behind but kicked ahead and recollected amongst the chaos.

12. Jack Goodhue โ€“ 8

The former All Black was nailed in a hard tackle the second he got his hands on the ball. He looked to get his teammates involved with a variety of distributions. Just one offload off the deck was a poor decision in a game full of solid play. Goodhueโ€™s attacking game came to life in the second half as he spied a gap and set his team away for a perfectly worked try, which Goodhue finished himself.

13. Alex Nankivell โ€“ 8

Nankivellโ€™s industrious defence was on full display in the match, he put in the hard yards where needed for his side. The centreโ€™s attacking game came through as the game opened up and his offloads were a constant threat.

14. Bailyn Sullivan โ€“ 7.5

Sullivan put Japan on notice early with a strong take on a contestable kick, showing his ability in the air. The ball didnโ€™t come the wingerโ€™s way much but Sullivan was exceptional in the few times he was able to influence the game, assisting on a couple of tries. The utility backโ€™s contributions to the set plays were uncharacteristically sloppy.

15. Ruben Love โ€“ 6.5

Love threw himself into the match with every opportunity, his lack of game time in 2023 was evident as the fullback was rusty in his execution around the ruck and struggled to find any seams in a well-organised Japan defence. Admirably, Loveโ€™s enthusiasm never faltered and he found his feet as the match wore on, finding ways to have more and more of a positive influence on the match.

Reserves:

16. Tyrone Thompson โ€“ 8
17. Ollie Norris โ€“ 8
18. Pouri Rakete-Stones โ€“ 6
19. Cameron Suafoa โ€“ 7
20. Billy Harmon โ€“ 8

Harmon made the most of his minutes on the field, his defence was up to his usual world-class standard and he delt with some scrappy ball to initiate scoring opportunities.

21. Folau Fakatava โ€“ 8

Fakatava was a triple threat from the second he stepped on the field, his passes were snappy and he produced a brilliant solo effort to finish the game as he often does.

22. Brett Cameron โ€“ 5
23. Sam Gilbert โ€“ 6

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

Vancouver SVNS | Day 3

Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
l
liz 596 days ago

๐Ÿ‘

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RegineIsaksen 51 minutes ago
Reds name 10 Wallabies in starting side for teamโ€™s season-opener

Sometimes life gives you signs-you just got to be paying attention. One night, deep in an Uber ride, I struck up a conversation with the driver. The topic of Bitcoin came up, and he mentioned that he once lost his wallet containing $50,000.

I thought this would be the end of the story-something like regret, lessons learned, and moving on. But then he said something that stuck with me: "Thankfully, I found Lee Ultimate Hacker. They got everything back." I nodded, really interested but unconcerned. After all, I was so very careful with my wallet security. I thought, That's rough, but it could never happen to me. A week later, it happened to me. I lost the wallet holding $300,000 while overhauling my crypto storage system. In one wrong move, my funds became completely unreachable. I retraced passwords, checked backups, tried everything that normally works, but nothing worked. Panic kicked in. My mind was racing, trying to figure out my next move. And then, I remembered the Uber driver's story.

I didn't waste a moment and contacted Lee Ultimate Hacker. Right upon connecting to their team, I could feel my nerves calm down. They did not right away get to work but also asked questions, analyzed my situation, and explained how the recovery would go. It was next-level professionalism; they didn't just work on how to return my money but also how to make me understand what happened and how I could avoid it in the future. Finally, after what felt like the longest wait of my life, came the message that I had been waiting for: My wallet was recovered successfully.

Relief doesn't even begin to describe my feeling at that moment. That $300,000 wasn't just money; it was years of careful investments and strategic planning. And in an instant, it was all back where it belonged. In retrospect, I owe more than a five-star rating to that Uber driver. His story gave me a lifeline which I didn't know I needed. Lesson learned: Pay attention to those random conversations-you never know when they might save you a fortune.

LEEULTIMATEHACKER @ AOL . COM

telegram: LEEULTIMATE

wh@tsapp +1 (715) 314 - 9248

1 Go to comments
S
SusanLiebman 1 hour ago
England explain their backing for Marcus Smith to stay on the kicks

Iโ€™ve always been careful with my cryptocurrency, but even the most cautious investors can fall victim to cyber threats. My nightmare began when a ransomware attack locked me out of my $500,000 Bitcoin wallet. The hackers demanded payment in exchange for access, but I refused to negotiate with criminals. Desperate and running out of options, I started researching legitimate crypto recovery services, something I never thought Iโ€™d need.During my search, I came across an article about crypto recovery services that highlighted Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery as an industry leader. While I was skeptical at first, I was also desperate. Every hour that passed felt like my funds were slipping further away. Finally, I decided to take a chance and reached out to their team.From the very first call, I knew I was dealing with professionals. The team at Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery listened patiently to my situation and reassured me that I wasnโ€™t alone,ransomware attacks were becoming increasingly common, and they had successfully helped many people recover their stolen crypto. Their confidence gave me hope.Once I provided the necessary details about my wallet and the attack, their forensic specialists got to work. Unlike the hackers, who demanded money without guarantees, Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery provided clear expectations, a transparent process, and constant updates. Their team used advanced blockchain analysis tools to trace the compromised transactions and locate vulnerabilities that could be exploited to regain access.The waiting period was nerve-wracking, but they delivered on every promise. Within a matter of days, I received the news I had been praying forโ€”my $500,000 had been fully restored. I could barely believe it. My funds were back, and the hackers had failed.Beyond the recovery itself, Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery also educated me on preventing future attacks. They advised me on strengthening my wallet security, using cold storage, and recognizing suspicious links or downloads that could contain malware. Their insight and expertise ensured that I wouldnโ€™t be caught off guard again.What started as a moment of complete despair ended with an incredible victoryโ€”all thanks to Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you think your crypto is gone for good, donโ€™t lose hope. They are the real deal, and they proved that even after a ransomware attack, your assets can still be saved.

Email: prowizardgilbertrecovery(@)engineer.com

Telegram: https://t.me/Pro_Wizard_Gilbert_Recovery

WhatsApp: +1 (920) 408โ€‘1234

0 Go to comments
S
SusanLiebman 2 hours ago
Leon MacDonald lands first Super Rugby job since All Blacks exit

Iโ€™ve always been careful with my cryptocurrency, but even the most cautious investors can fall victim to cyber threats. My nightmare began when a ransomware attack locked me out of my $500,000 Bitcoin wallet. The hackers demanded payment in exchange for access, but I refused to negotiate with criminals. Desperate and running out of options, I started researching legitimate crypto recovery services, something I never thought Iโ€™d need.During my search, I came across an article about crypto recovery services that highlighted Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery as an industry leader. While I was skeptical at first, I was also desperate. Every hour that passed felt like my funds were slipping further away. Finally, I decided to take a chance and reached out to their team.From the very first call, I knew I was dealing with professionals. The team at Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery listened patiently to my situation and reassured me that I wasnโ€™t alone,ransomware attacks were becoming increasingly common, and they had successfully helped many people recover their stolen crypto. Their confidence gave me hope.Once I provided the necessary details about my wallet and the attack, their forensic specialists got to work. Unlike the hackers, who demanded money without guarantees, Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery provided clear expectations, a transparent process, and constant updates. Their team used advanced blockchain analysis tools to trace the compromised transactions and locate vulnerabilities that could be exploited to regain access.The waiting period was nerve-wracking, but they delivered on every promise. Within a matter of days, I received the news I had been praying forโ€”my $500,000 had been fully restored. I could barely believe it. My funds were back, and the hackers had failed.Beyond the recovery itself, Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery also educated me on preventing future attacks. They advised me on strengthening my wallet security, using cold storage, and recognizing suspicious links or downloads that could contain malware. Their insight and expertise ensured that I wouldnโ€™t be caught off guard again.What started as a moment of complete despair ended with an incredible victoryโ€”all thanks to Pro Wizard Gilbert Recovery. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you think your crypto is gone for good, donโ€™t lose hope. They are the real deal, and they proved that even after a ransomware attack, your assets can still be saved.

Email: prowizardgilbertrecovery(@)engineer.com

Telegram: https://t.me/Pro_Wizard_Gilbert_Recovery

WhatsApp: +1 (920) 408โ€‘1234

6 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING The England tactic enraging rugby fans online after Scotland match The England tactic enraging fans online after Scotland match
Search