Player Ratings: All Blacks v Ireland and other articles and observations

Chris Rattue rates the players following the All Blacks' 21-9 win over Ireland this morning in Dublin.

New Zealand

Ben Smith 7
From fullback, to halfback - where he did a smart job - to wing. Efficient, not startling.

Israel Dagg 8
From unwanted fullback to NZ's best wing. All class as runner and playmaker.

Malakai Fekitoa 7
One nice finish. Stupid high tackle meant costly yellow card. Awkward and enthusiastic.

Anton Lienert-Brown 7
Needed a better platform. Classy moments, neat defending, but with the odd blooper.

Julian Savea 6
Useless with the high ball. One decent charge but too much lost or spilled ball.

Beauden Barrett 9
But for two poor passes, probably worth a 10. Magnificent in attack, defence, and goals. Saved the day as Ireland hammered the All Blacks.

Aaron Smith 4
Brave tackling his only saviour. Horrible, including string of bad second half kicks. Not even NZ's best halfback anymore. Debilitating yellow card as well.

Kieran Read 6
Top start but faded. Lack of punch with the ball a major problem, highlighted by comparison to Irish loosies' fabulous stampede. Also missed tackles, but made quite a few.

Sam Cane 5
Departed early with leg injury after haphazard start.

Liam Squire 8
Stood out, without the necessary support or physical impact to turn back Irish tide.

Sam Whitelock 6
Virtually nothing with the ball, so had to do plenty without it, which he did. Manly grasping tackles though.

Brodie Retallick 8
Big work rate. Some smashing tackles and tried to get his side on front foot. One fine kick off take.

Owen Franks 6

Scrums were a toss up, but he was clearly outplayed around the field.

Dane Coles 6
The magic wasn't quite happening. Lineouts strong, enthusiastic tackling. One great lineout move.

Joe Moody 7
Put in huge defensive shift, a good run, a little clumsy at times.

Reserves
Codie Taylor (Coles, 67m) 5
All Blacks need a muscular hooker option. Coaches' faith not there yet.

Wyatt Crockett (Moody, 49m) 5
Didn't get into the game. Rome might have tired him out.

Charlie Faumuina (Franks, 52m) 6
Got involved and snaffled a loose ball late.

Scott Barrett (Squire, 67m) 6
Busy defensively and one good contest.

Ardie Savea (Cane, 17m) 7
All that wild fury needs more direction, but he did impress as the All Blacks clung on.

TJ Perenara (Smith, 58m) 8
Made big difference. Terrific pass created try. Caused problems to the end.

Aaron Cruden (J. Savea, 58m) 6
Okay cameo, and tackled aggressively.

Waisake Naholo (B. Smith, 74m) 5
A couple of runs. Thanks coach.

Ireland
Rob Kearney 6
Did some running but without posing many questions.

Andrew Trimble 7
Low involvement, high class. HIs outstretched hand prevented one try, and probably another.

Jared Payne 6
A clever game, but the Irish forwards will wonder why their efforts didn't bring victory.

Robbie Henshaw 5
His departure after an 11th minutes head clash with Cane a bitter blow to Irish hopes.

Simon Zebo 6
Nifty moves, but they didn't produce much.

Johnny Sexton 5
Hadn't done a lot but his 17th minute departure was probably a turning point in retrospect.

Conor Murray 6
Left best work in Chicago - highly involved, didn't make much happen. Missed Barrett on try run.

Jamie Heaslip 8
Powered through Read early on, kept hammering away, and part of some midfield ploys.

Sean O'Brien 9
Every bit Barrett's equal as man of the match. Stupendous amount of running, decent defence. If only he had held the ball with the tryline begging.

CJ Stander 8
A belligerent 22 minutes of work with the ball helped set the stage.

Donnacha Ryan 6
A toiler in this company but he made a few short charges.

Devin Toner 7
A lineout colossus. Resolute elsewhere.

Tadhg Furlong 9
Magnificent, starting with tackle on wing Savea. Loads of carries - brushed off Franks, Read and Retallick with one. Even smart short pass to van der Flier.

Rory Best 7
Yap, yap, yap. Some lineout misses aside, strong. But cut the referee inquisitions please.

Jack McGrath 7
Very busy, as he was in the Chicago game.

Reserves
Sean Cronin (Best, 67m) 5
Vigorous but one crucial dropped ball.

Cian Healy (McGrath, 58m) 5
There or there abouts. One poor long pass.

Finlay Bealham (Furlong, 67m) 5
Big shoes to fill and didn't get close.

Iain Henderson (Ryan, 58m) 5
Not much going on here.

Josh van der Flier (Stander, 22m) 8
Brilliant match - still making big runs in the final 10 minutes.

Kieran Marmion (Zebo, 78m) -
Unwanted in his true position at halfback.

Paddy Jackson (Sexton, 17m) 4
Aimless. Terrible kick led to Fekitoa's match-sealer. Wasted forwards dominance.

Garry Ringrose (Henshaw, 11m) 6
Lively but not very threatening.

 Aron Smith looked lost out there for most of the time he was on the field. It is amazing how a player with such talent can drop so far in form because of a mental issue. We saw the same with j. Savea who still hasn't reached the level of his old form - I don't remember him having problems with high kicks before.
There has been very little said about B. Smith filling in at half back and doing a very good job. He has amazing talent and versatility. I would have given him an 8.
The coaches will need to an*alize why the ABs had so little possession and field position in the second half. You can't live like that even with the fierce defense they played.
The stats supported the observation of the ABs having less on offense but making the most of their opportunities. They gained 470 meters to 360, had more clean breaks, had far few passes 153 to 258, only had 34% of possession.
On defence ABs had 193 tackles attempts to 93 and missed 24 to Irelands 23. So percentage wise the AB defence was far superior and helped them win the game.
Ireland did much better in the rucks and mauls and ABs were better in the lineouts.
Discipline was really bad for the ABs with 14 penalties to 4 and 2 yellows to none.
The standout player was clearly Barrett. Good to see his brother getting game time at lock. Ardie is finding out how tough it is to play at test level against bigger and stronger players. He is good but still adjusting IMO. I can see why the ABs want a bigger bloke starting at 7 (Cane) and why they are bringing Ardie along slowly as he develops his body.
PS. it's great to see Dagg on top of his game! He's fluid, confident and highly skilled, a threat whenever he get's the ball. Well done mate!

 PLAYER RATING: Rugby 365

OPINION: THEY MAY HAVE COME INTO THE MATCH CLAIMING THE UNDERDOG TAG BUT IT WAS THE AMOUNT OF FIGHT THEY SHOWED ON DEFENCE THAT ENABLED THEM TO BAG A 21-9 VICTORY OVER IRELAND IN DUBLIN.

It was just reward after losing their winning streak to the same opponents in Chicago a few weeks ago but they were made to work hard for it.

Most of their attacks were foiled and were on the back foot for long periods but they maintained their discipline and kept cool heads to grind out the all-important victory.

Tauriq Ebrahim rates the New Zealand players!

15 Ben Smith
Attacking chances were few but he crossed the advantage line more often than not. He may have fumbled a few balls but he sure knows how to tackle.
6/10

14 Israel Dagg
His awareness of his positioning on the field is second to none as he consistently manages to keep the ball alive despite being under pressure most of the time.
7/10

13 Malakai Fekitoa
Got sent to the naughty chair for a high tackle but was otherwise pretty decent on defence to go with a few clean breaks which led to two tries.
7/10

12 Anton Lienert-Brown
Had some rare chances to carry the ball and proved just how strong he is to maintain possession. The one thing that stood out though was that he can hold onto his tackles.
7/10

11 Julian Savea
He may not have been at his try-scoring best on the night but he certainly made his impact by bulldozing a few Irishmen.
6/10

10 Beauden Barrett
He is quite simply the complete package. Perfect passing, excellent judgement on kicks and an elusive runner.
9/10

9 Aaron Smith
Showed an immense amount of determination to make up for receiving a yellow card by putting in the hard yards on defence, although he could have maybe been a bit more creative on attack.
6/10

8 Kieran Read (captain)
He may not have had a massive attacking game but he certainly made up for it with a massive defensive performance and strong work at the breakdown.
7/10

7 Sam Cane
Spent just 16 minutes on the field before leaving with an ankle injury.

6 Liam Squire
He must have a vice grip as he never let one tackle slip through his fingers and when you combine that with his ability to slow the opposition's ball down at the breakdown, he is quite the player.
7/10

Replacements:

16 Codie Taylor (on for Coles, 68th min)
Not enough time to be rated.

17 Wyatt Crockett (on for Moody, 49th min)
It was pretty tough having to come on and play a defensive role, although he was not really in the thick of things.
4/10

18 Charlie Faumuina (on for Franks, 52nd min)
He looked to impose himself on proceedings but it failed to materialise effectively.
4/10

19 Scott Barrett (on for Squire, 68th min)
Not enough time to be rated.

20 Ardie Savea (on for Cane, 18th min)
What a revelation he has been and on a night where had to stand in early in the game, he was in the thick of it all for the majority of the game. Strong on the ball, yet silky at the breakdowns.
7/10

21 TJ Perenara (on for Smith, 58th min)
Can be an elusive runner when given a little too much space and was influential in handing Fekitoa his second try.
6/10

22 Aaron Cruden (on for J Savea, 58th min)
Stood up to the defensive challenge and was instrumental in keeping the team calm in a high pressure environment.
6/10

23 Waisake Naholo (on for Smith, 73rd min)
Not enough time to be rated.

By Tauriq Ebrahim

Kearney made some incredibly brave high ball takes....deserved a better rating. I also thought Smith was better than adverised, the yellow was more of a team card and he was the fall guy.

 A. Smith on attack
0 meters gained 34 passes.1 turnover conceded 1 try assist
Defense: 8 tackles 1 missed tackle
TJ 31 meters made on 3 carries; 1 defender beaten 2 clean breaks; 
6 tackles one missed tackle
TJ played  for 22 minutes

 Aaron will hopefully be back to his best soon .The nosey arseholes who somehow thought it was their right to document Smiths indiscretion with a consenting adult out of public view should go and stick their heads in said toilet and flush.The only thing he did wrong was use a disabled facility hardly a major crime worthy of public scrutiny .The rest is between him ,the lady involved and were it not for said nosey git it wouldnt even include his partner .Sick and tired of how every eejit with a smartphone thinks every one elses business is theirs to record without thought to consequences .