Ben Smith – 6.5
As solid as ever and always probing, sniffing out opportunities. Smart step and pass to set up Nonu’s first.
Nehe Milner-Skudder – 6.5
Just about invisible for 40 minutes, then he tore the Wallabies to shreds with a gorgeous step and turn of speed to put Aaron Smith in for a try…well, it would have been a try if not for the forearm of Quade Cooper anyway. Hopefully his injury isn’t serious.
Conrad Smith – 7.5
A classic Conrad display in many ways. He just does all the simple things so well – runs hard, makes his tackles, and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, getting his name on the scoresheet.
Ma’a Nonu – 8
A brilliant second half from the big man. Two well-taken tries and a lovely pass for Smith’s try acted as a reminder that he is the full package these days.
Julian Savea – 6
Did nothing wrong but surprisingly quiet and you get the sense that he’s still searching for his ‘A game’, which he’ll probably bring out at the World Cup.
Dan Carter – 8
My time machine works! This was vintage Carter – smooth distribution and incisive running to dismantle a previously solid Wallaby defence. Just a week after we were questioning if he was past it.
Aaron Smith – 6.5
Like Savea, he is the best in the world in his position but he is still searching for his top form – although he showed some smart touches here.
Tony Woodcock – 5
In his last Test on New Zealand soil you couldn’t help but feel that Woodcock is nearly a spent force. Under pressure in the scrum early on (before recovering) and seemed to struggle with the pace of the game.
Dane Coles – 8.5
Outrageous swerve and pace for a hooker but it shouldn’t be a surprise any more – a brilliantly taken try. His work in the loose is very good as well and his set piece looks to have tightened up, too.
Owen Franks – 6
Struggled again in the scrum early on but recovered pretty well. Not overly prominent in the loose but fairly solid.
Brodie Retallick – 8
Still very clearly the best second row in the world. Athletic, intelligent, and snarlingly confrontational, he formed one half of the engine room which drove the a All Black dominance in the second half.
Sam Whitelock – 9
Recalled from the bench and made some statement. Never took a backward step and weighed in with a couple of very significant turnovers in defence. The 5 shirt is his again. Man of the Match.
Victor Vito – 6.5
A solid and busy display, but does he have enough about him to displace Jerome Kaino or even Liam Messam? I’m not so sure on this evidence.
Richie Mccaw: 6.5
The record breaking skipper has enjoyed a spectacular career but this wasn’t a spectacular performance. He had his hands full in the loose but he undertook the dirty work with typical relish.
Kieran Read – 6
Not his kind of game and another who isn’t quite hitting the heights expected. Operated in the narrow channels, rather than the wider ones where he is so effective, and was solid without really catching the eye.
Subs – 5
Nobody really caught the eye, apart from TJ Perenara – but that was because his loopy chip gave Israel Folau the chance the gather and score for the Wallabies.
By Mike Cooper
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Vito was a a lot better than a 6.5. He seemed to be everywhere, carryin, tackling and hitting rucks.
Kaino has yet to hit his previous highs and was anonymous the week previously. Messam is not going to let anyone down but isn’t top of the tree.
If I were a Kiwi fan, I think I’d want Vito starting at the moment.
The author seems to rate the spectacular over the consistent.
Agree that V V was worth more. He was plenty active, dynamic in attack & defence. Didn’t see too many errors. Nor did the Kiwi (ex Int’al) commentators.
D. Coles scored THAT try & so seemingly rated highly. However, it’s also the rest of his game that needs consideration. Mind you, his last pass to Nonu helped set up the latter’s 1st try.
Regds Ben Smith having only rated 6.5 because he was as ‘solid as ever…’ etc, well when did he ever make a mistake? It’s not just the flamboyant that counts.
Carter did have a better game, but as Hansen said, ‘He had the platform’. Without the ball, he had a lower profile last week, but when he had the pill in Bled II, he surely showed that age (as did the energetic Nonu) is a relative thing. Exp counts as well… as Lancaster might note!
And the props did their jobs in the scrums. Don’t think Oz dominated here. Besides Franks also passed like a 3/4, along with Whitelock & Coles, to set up the aforementioned Nonu.
Something else Lancaster might note.
Kaino & Messam are pretty useful to have in the squad methinks. The AB pack was relatively ‘anonymous the week previously’, but they fixed that last Sat.