1
Ireland player ratings vs New Zealand | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
By Ian Cameron at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Ireland player ratings: Andy Farrell’s Ireland were blown off the park by referee Nic Berry in what was a scrappy and error-strewn display in their Autumn Nations Series opener against bitter rivals New Zealand.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pre-match chat was about the increasingly acrimonious relations between these two teams but it was very much the All Blacks having the last laugh here.
Ireland deserved to lose this one, even if they didn’t get the rub of the green on the hallowed Aviva turf.
Here’s how we rated the Irish players:
1. Andrew Porter – 8
Porter was immense. Started the game with a superb charge down on Ratima and was after that his usual tireless self in the scrum and breakdown, showing immense strength against a powerful New Zealand front row, even if Nic Berry didn’t always reward his dominance.
2. Ronan Kelleher – 5
Back from injury, Kelleher was strangely pinged for contesting the ball in a 9th-minute ruck, an infringement that saw New Zealand get their first points of the game. Ireland’s win percentage at the lineout was also sub-par, but he wasn’t totally to blame for that.
3. Finlay Bealham – 7
Deserves a lot of credit here, as there were real fears around his scrummaging coming into this one in place of the injured Tadhg Furlong. For the most part, held his own at the setpiece and worked hard in open play. Showed grit.
4. Joe McCarthy – 8.5
Another player thrown in the deep end after his injury lay-0ff, McCarthy was relentless in defence and carried well when called upon. Got into the All Blacks gladiator style, which Paul Mescal seemed to love from his vantage point in the stand [see what we’ve done there?] Maybe his best performance in an Ireland jersey.
ADVERTISEMENT
5. James Ryan – 6
The energy and commitment was there with the 6’8 lock leading Ireland’s tackling stats for most of the match. Played with visible intensity, but began to wilt under the huge defensive workload that was being asked of the men in green.
6. Tadhg Beirne – 5
Worked tirelessly in the trenches, bringing his usual grit and work rate to a physical contest. His trademark turnovers or game-changing moments weren’t on show here though and he ended up in the negative on that front.
7. Josh van der Flier – 8.5
Van der Flier was sharp as a tack around the fringes, tackling like a demented wolverine high on Class-A narcotics and generally making life difficult for the Kiwis. Did brilliantly to squeeze over in the 43rd minute when Ireland desperately needed it.
ADVERTISEMENT
8. Caelan Doris – 7.5
Doris carried like a 6.6-litre Duramax and added huge value in defence with some particularly pitiless tackling. Instrumental in Ireland’s physical approach, but there was only so much he could do against wave after wave of black attack.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 6.5
Showed flashes of his usual pace and creativity but was a bit loose in execution, leading to some bungled opportunities. The All Blacks got to him at times, but he stayed in the fight.
10. Jack Crowley – 4
Struggled to make an impact in the first half, remaining largely anonymous. Grew into the game slightly in the second forty but couldn’t quite find his usual rhythm or influence. Reliable with the boot, but needs to work on his stage presence and his handling.
11. James Lowe – 5.5
Tried to make things happen but wasn’t given a stage tonight by his native New Zealanders. Managed some decent clearances but the All Blacks were eating up Ireland’s kicking game. If he was judged on his 72nd-minute kick alone it would have been a 10 out of 10 performance.
12. Bundee Aki – 3
A totally off-colour performance from Aki. Opened his account with a poorly timed pass which went to the deck before inexplicably spilling a ball a few minutes later. One good run aside, the All Blacks had his number in attack, where he struggled to make a meaningful impact.
13. Garry Ringrose – 6
Reliable and composed, even if he spent most of his evening scrambling in defence, including a thunderous hit on Ireland’s arch-nemesis Rieko Ioane. Didn’t get the chance to do much on the other side of the ball. Took a nasty headshot on 39 minutes from soon-to-be Leinster teammate Jordie Barrett, which resulted in Barrett’s binning.
14. Mack Hansen – 5
Showed flashes of his creativity with ball in hand and had a couple of threatening runs. Worked hard defensively but not as involved as he’d have liked.
15. Hugo Keenan – 6.5
A calm presence at the back, Keenan was safe under the high ball and covered the ground well. Consistently there to support his teammates but like most of his comrades didn’t get a look in offensively.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Rob Herring – 5
Herring brought fresh energy and physicality but couldn’t make a significant impact.
17. Cian Healy – 6
Scrummaged well when introduced. Didn’t get many chances to make a mark in open play.
18. Tom O’Toole – NA
Came on but HIA’ed after just two minutes.
19. Iain Henderson – 1
A 62nd-minute knock-on from Henderson was not the type of impact Ireland were looking for from the Ulsterman, nor was a penalty conceded that extended New Zealand’s lead minutes later. A dire cameo.
20. Peter O’Mahony – 6
Added valuable experience and grit in the closing stages, but Ireland were more or less cooked at that stage.
21. Conor Murray – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
22. Ciaran Frawley – 5
Ireland seemed to wake from their slumber when Frawley came on, at least with ball-in-hand. One spill in particular aside, he was an improvement on Crowley.
23. Jamie Osborne – 5
Came on late and saw limited action.
That Frawley Crowley comparison is poor. Ireland had scored all their points, and were winning, when Frawley came on. They didnt need to 'wake up from their slumber', they needed to press their advantage.
These ratings are partially useful if you did not watch the game. They are even less useful if both teams are assessed by different people. Surely if one of these analysts watches one team, they can be expected to watch the other.
I thought berry had a shocker. Irish may be feeling hard done by.
What, for being allowed to come in from the side ruck time with impunity, and being allowed to lay on the wrong side of the ruck continually, with berry saying " they're trying to roll away" lets face it, any other ref and Ireland would have had several in the bin for repeat offences.
Nick Berry is not an international class ref.He should be replaced by someone more competent.
Most of the inflated ratings given Ireland today as a 10-point loser just show that NH are not adjusting ratings to reflect it.....dream on NH raters!!!😇YOU need to adjust ratings for losers to be fairer in a contest especially when winners are not given the same chance to higher ones 'cos they mjght have deserved it!
Ian after reading your ratings I have to wonder if we watched the same game! JGP was everywhere today and was outstanding. James Lowe put in his usual top effort against his fellow countrymen. the 6.5 and 5.5 you gave them is unfair and TBH simply unbelievable.
Way too generous for the Irish tight 5. They were owned in every department and were lucky not to be penalised more as they were very ill-disciplined. Their scrum and lineout got cooked.
"Kelleher was strangely pinged for contesting the ball in a 9th-minute ruck" - yet he never released the ball in the tackle.
showing immense strength against a powerful New Zealand front row, even if Nic Berry didn’t always reward his dominance.
What dominance? He played well but the packs were equal bar one where the TH had to come back on and got owned by Tuungafasi...and that scrum out from their line where their dissarray was inexplicably rewarded with a reset.
Yeah I think it's safe to say that Ireland forward pack got owned.
Lomax had that LH number that whole game, and Tamaiti only got tricked once due to an experience gap.
The Irish lineout was also abysmal, losing ball whenever they needed it.
JGP 7.5 at least for me.
Comedy ratings!!
The Irish-Kiwis were a mixed bunch today. Bundee looked tired as. How the heck does James Lowe do that 50/22 thing from no angle? JGP was great, I thought.
URC:Leinster, Munster, Ulster, Connach vs SRPacific:Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders.
Cheers SRPacific referee Nic Berry...
Is that’s the best of the much vaunted URC, I’ll take super rugby thanks
Ah yes, the obligatory ref whine. That's why, for sure...
Ireland got away with murder at the rucks and breakdown.
Rusty vs battle hardened. The joys of the rugby calendar.
Funny these excuse's are always used by NH bloggers when they lose, whether it be down south or up north.
Good advertisement for why we need a global calendar. Ireland played as though it was their first game since July.
That is what happens when you only have maybe 10 world class players, a few imports and the rest are club level. Not Ireland's best game but they did seem rusty. Good on the All Blacks!
Vulnerable at 10. Neither Irish 10 looked good.
I thought Irelands defence looked good.
Well done ABs. That wasn’t a pretty win, but you beat Ireland at home. Kudos.
Forwards rated way to highly after being dominated the whole game
Alright, had some time to dig through the stats a bit.
Ireland won 6/10 scrums (60%) and were 7/10 at the lineout (70%). Ireland made 151 tackles and missed 30 (83%).
New Zealand were 8/10 at scrums (80%) and were 8/9 at the lineout (89%). New Zealand made 100 tackles and missed 14 (88%).
NZ made 9 linebreaks, Ireland made 1. New Zealand made 317 post contact m (2.69 per carry), Ireland made 177m (2.06 per carry).
Ireland conceded 13 penalties to New Zealands 5.
Shows NZ's complete domination at setpiece, and were better during general play. That entire Irish front row deserve <4, and the locks deserve <4.5 for that misery at the lineout. Doris a 7.5 for doing what? Beirne also deserves less than 4. What is the point in playing 3 locks if you can't even win the lineouts.
Just abysmal today from that Irish forward pack. The author might have to be less merciful with this Irish team if he wants to keep his reputation alive.
'Added valuable experience and grit in the closing stages, but Ireland were more or less cooked at that stage.' - Ian Cameron
Just found this gem of a one-liner too. Anymore insight you'd like to add, Ian?