All Black Rankings
3By Prepaidnz
Ben Smith –6
Largely outplayed Folou however New Zealand missed Dagg’s long, raking punts especially in second spell when they were most needed.
Cory Jane – 6
Play didn’t go his way last night but mistake free as usual. Seems to always play better when his mate Dagg’s in the team?
Julian Savea – 7
NZ’s premier winger now boasting a complete game as he swallowed up all the kicks directed down his channel. Needed ball in space but it wasn’t that kind of night was it?
Malakai Fekitoa – 6
Quiet night on the back of one strong carry but developing nicely over longer term. Smith comes back this week.
Maa Nonu – 6
Hands a bit ropey but as usual carried strong on a difficult night. Injury worry now as well.
Aaron Cruden – 6
Good goal-kicking and shorts kicks well executed. Our best 10 now.
Aaron Smith – 6
Pretty much error free and kicked more than usual in wet. One good early break spoiled by bad option at end.
Kieran Read – 7
Big workload espacially after Kaino’s departure.
Jerome Kaino – 7
Strong game until injured.
Ritchie McCaw – 6
Yes 6. Penalty count up again and decision to ball run from own 22 at end of game could have been disastrous. Rating matches the number he needs on his back these days.
Sam Whitelock 7
The middle row is New Zealand’s point-of-difference from other sides. Pray neither gets hurt any time soon.
Brodie Retallick – 7
Another massive game from a guy with a huge engine. Also Refer Sam Whitelock.
Wyatt Crockett – 5
Started well but 2 quick penalties resulted in sin-bin (which changed game) and subsequent DNF.
Owen Franks – 7
Big effort shoring up front row that wobbled last night.
Dane Coles – 7
Perfect lineout night, good defence and one of the plays of the night stepping Beale after which he was bizarrely substituted. With 20 tests under belt the selectors can probably put Mealamu out to pasture and groom an understudy.
The Bench
Sam Cane – 5
Bad handling error near line. Needs game time he isn’t getting in this team (ITM Cup maybe).
Ben Franks – 6
Shored up Crocketts departure. Probably worth a start now.
Joe Moody – 5
Mountain of a man another who needs game time. Two scrum engagement infringements near end could have been costly.
Keven Mealamu – 5
Two bad lineout wobbles and limited impact elsewhere. Times probably up on a great All Black warrior methinks.
Beauden Barrett – 5
No heroics last night as he was promptly sin- binned. Doesn’t start as front on defence not test match standard yet.
Ryan Crotty – 6
One good hit and error free. May get a shot at 12 (his best spot) this week with Nonu crocked.
Not rated – TJ Perenara and Steven Luatua
Sorry, not controversial enough: there need to be some twos and nines, not just a bunch of sixes and sevens 🙂
I didn’t understand the Coles substitution.
Yeah; rankings should be based on exaggeration; that’s how the Herald does it.
BTW, O Franks made 3 tackles and missed 7.
Yeah, saw the Franks figures. I gather he also carried the ball twice for a grand total of zero metres gained. Haven’t been following closely but is fair to say his game has been going downhill for a while now?