Following the All Blacks’ 28-14 victory over the Wallabies in Perth, we pick out our winners and losers from the Rugby Championship clash.
Winners
Quinn Tupaea
New Zealand has not seen a better performance at outside centre since the Rugby World Cup. Rieko Ioane was first choice in 2024 before Billy Proctor took over this year but, after a series of mediocre performances, his place has been under threat.
With Proctor supposedly rested – the official line being he is “a bit banged up” – Tupaea was given an opportunity in Perth, and he was absolutely exceptional. The Chiefs star touched down twice, defended superbly in the outside centre channel and was arguably their best player on Saturday.
Scott Robertson
A few of his alterations were injury-enforced, but there were still some brave calls, such as ‘resting’ Proctor and giving Tupaea a go in a position he has not played too much in at Super Rugby level. Equally, Peter Lakai was given a start ahead of the highly rated Wallace Sititi, and those decisions were justified with this victory.
They were under pressure at times, but the All Blacks were generally impressive and controlled much of the contest in difficult conditions. There is still plenty to work on but, after successive victories, the pressure has eased somewhat on Robertson.
Fraser McReight
If Len Ikitau was the standout back for the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship, then the best of the forwards was surely flanker Fraser McReight. The livewire back-rower is quickly becoming one of the premier openside flankers in world rugby, if he isn’t already, and was on top of his game today.
The number seven pilfered and pestered the All Blacks’ breakdown throughout the first half with little reward, but he persisted in the second half and finally earned penalties from referee Matthew Carley.
The clash in Perth was just another impressive performance to add to the already bulging catalogue of sterling shifts in the Wallabies jersey.
Leicester Fainga’anuku
Back in black and back and barely looked out of place as Leicester Fainga’anuku made a blockbuster and hulking return to the All Blacks jersey. He swatted off Joseph Suaalii with impressive ease and was effective defensively.
It’s clear to see why Robertson was so eager to get him back in New Zealand and in the Test set-up. The first of many more caps to come.
Peter Lakai
Peter Lakai’s absence in the All Blacks’ matchday squad has been rather puzzling, and his performance against Australia only emphasises that point with the Hurricanes star hummering and thundering into Wallabies players throughout his shift.
The 22-year-old brought brutality and balance to the loose trio, which freed up Ardie Savea to pick his moments, particularly at the breakdown. The All Blacks’ loose trio stocks are swelling at the moment, and Lakai has added to the selection headache.
Losers
Tom Hooper
A mare from the hard-working and usually excellent Brumbies forward. Tom Hooper was punished for a poor clear-out attempt in the build-up to a try that was subsequently chalked off. His ten minutes in the sin-bin resulted in a momentum swing which also occurred with a wayward pass when the Wallabies had the All Blacks on the ropes.
He also had an unusually high missed tackle count to compound what was a rare subpar shift.
Wallabies v All Blacks: Five takeaways as Australia had ‘no answers’ for ‘Razor’ sharp Kiwi backs
Joe Schmidt
It firstly has to be stated that the Wallabies boss has done an excellent job since arriving following the 2023 Rugby World Cup debacle, but he’s got it wrong over the past two weeks at fly-half. Starting James O’Connor at Eden Park after a trip around the world didn’t feel like the right call and he subsequently produced his worst performance of the year. What made it worse is that he was left on for the whole 80 minutes.
Fast forward a week, when O’Connor has had more time to recover from that trip to England and back, and he was put on the bench with Edmed given the reins. This time it was the 25-year-old who struggled and ultimately should have been replaced but, like O’Connor, he was given the whole game. It seemed to be Schmidt’s plan to give both players 80 minutes and, if that’s the case, it was done the wrong way round.
Tane Edmed
On the subject of the inexperienced Test 10, it is not a display which will help his international cause going forward. Edmed started well enough, linking play nicely in that classic Schmidt attacking system but, as the game went on and the weather worsened, he folded under the pressure.
In the second period, there were so many poor decisions, and it left the All Blacks off the hook. A chip kick straight into the arms of an All Blacks defender when just outside the 22 particularly sticks in the mind and summed up his display after the break.
Damian McKenzie
While the Wallabies’ 10 struggled, his opposite number wasn’t particularly convincing either. McKenzie started the 2024 Test season as Robertson’s first-choice fly-half, but he has drifted behind Beauden Barrett in the pecking order.
Barrett’s injury has given him another opportunity, but he simply did not take it in Perth. It is not quite clear how long the Blues star is out for but, if it is serious, then the All Blacks need McKenzie to step up or else they may struggle on their November tour.
Will Skelton
The powerhouse Wallabies lock missed the first Bledisloe Cup due to club commitments but was parachuted in from France for a mere 15 minutes in Perth, admittedly not through his own doing.
Skelton proved to be a real pest early in the match, winning a penalty but quickly undoing his good work at the breakdown by shunting one of the All Blacks’ players, which reversed the referee’s decision.
Soon after, he trodded off the park to undergo a head injury assessment that he duly failed. A disappointing end for the lock and a result that La Rochelle won’t be too pleased with either.