In a ruthless display of power and precision, the All Blacks dismantled Wales 52-26 at the Principality Stadium. The player ratings are in, and while some shone brightly, others barely flickered.
Ruben Love, despite a couple of aerial defeats and a missed tackle that led to one of Tom Rogers' three tries, showed flashes of brilliance with a try and an assist. His overall performance merited a 6. Will Jordan, on the other hand, excelled under the high ball, securing crucial territory and growing in influence throughout the game, earning an 8.
Rieko Ioane's game was a mixed bag. After a dismal first 50 minutes with defensive lapses, he slightly redeemed himself post-try, linking play effectively. Yet, his overall impact was lacking, and as one critic put it,
"He really needs to refind himself at Leinster."
He scored a 5. Anton Lienert-Brown was dependable, crashing through a soft Welsh defence and scoring a 7.
Caleb Clarke, returning from injury, reminded everyone of his prowess with a two-try performance, scoring an 8. Damian McKenzie's inconsistent game saw him score a 7, thanks to an improvement in the second half and flawless place-kicking.
Cortez Ratima struggled with his game management, and his 5 rating reflects areas needing enhancement. Wallace Sititi, however, was a beast on the field. His omnipresent performance earned him an 8, making him one of the standout players.
In the forward pack, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Simon Parker were active at the breakdown, scoring 6 and 7 respectively. Scott Barrett led by example, particularly in set-pieces and earned a well-deserved 7. The front-row trio, including Pasilio Tosi, Samisoni Taukei'aho, and Tamaiti Williams, dominated physically, with Tosi and Taukei'aho being particularly destructive, both scoring 7 and 8 respectively.
The impact of the bench was notable, especially with Finlay Christie who injected much-needed tempo and Fletcher Newell, who was solid at tighthead. Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku also made significant contributions in limited time, with Reece finishing off two tries beautifully.
The All Blacks' performance was a statement of intent and dominance, leaving spectators and opponents alike in awe, yet also pondering the consistency of some key players.
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In a ruthless display of power and precision, the All Blacks dismantled Wales 52-26 at the Principality Stadium. The player ratings are in, and while some shone brightly, others barely flickered.
Ruben Love, despite a couple of aerial defeats and a missed tackle that led to one of Tom Rogers' three tries, showed flashes of brilliance with a try and an assist. His overall performance merited a 6. Will Jordan, on the other hand, excelled under the high ball, securing crucial territory and growing in influence throughout the game, earning an 8.
Rieko Ioane's game was a mixed bag. After a dismal first 50 minutes with defensive lapses, he slightly redeemed himself post-try, linking play effectively. Yet, his overall impact was lacking, and as one critic put it,
"He really needs to refind himself at Leinster."
He scored a 5. Anton Lienert-Brown was dependable, crashing through a soft Welsh defence and scoring a 7.Caleb Clarke, returning from injury, reminded everyone of his prowess with a two-try performance, scoring an 8. Damian McKenzie's inconsistent game saw him score a 7, thanks to an improvement in the second half and flawless place-kicking.
Cortez Ratima struggled with his game management, and his 5 rating reflects areas needing enhancement. Wallace Sititi, however, was a beast on the field. His omnipresent performance earned him an 8, making him one of the standout players.
In the forward pack, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Simon Parker were active at the breakdown, scoring 6 and 7 respectively. Scott Barrett led by example, particularly in set-pieces and earned a well-deserved 7. The front-row trio, including Pasilio Tosi, Samisoni Taukei'aho, and Tamaiti Williams, dominated physically, with Tosi and Taukei'aho being particularly destructive, both scoring 7 and 8 respectively.
The impact of the bench was notable, especially with Finlay Christie who injected much-needed tempo and Fletcher Newell, who was solid at tighthead. Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku also made significant contributions in limited time, with Reece finishing off two tries beautifully.
The All Blacks' performance was a statement of intent and dominance, leaving spectators and opponents alike in awe, yet also pondering the consistency of some key players.