Beauden Barrett after scoring his second try for the All Blacks against the Wallabies in Sydney. Photo / Photosport
14. Will Jordan – 6
A quiet game by his usual standards. Created Rieko Ioane’s try in the first half, to go with four tackles, three offloads and 24 run metres.
Subbed off after halftime to give Crusaders teammate Chay Fihaki his test debut.
13. Quinn Tupaea – 5
Made a break down the right flank, but lasted less than two minutes before a head-on-ground collision saw him exit after a failed concussion test.
12. Timoci Tavatavanawai – 6
Had his moments on his first test start at No 12 after injury to Jordie Barrett in the week. Quiet first half, but came up with a trademark bump-off on Jorgensen in the second.
Gave away a penalty for offside, but made nine tackles to make up for it. Beat six defenders and made 40 metres with ball in hand.
Forced off after the All Blacks ran out of subs and needed a hooker once Samisoni Taukei’aho went down injured.
11. Josh Moorby – 7
Bookended the scoring with the All Blacks’ first and last tries, the second of which saw a textbook dummy to leave the Australian defence clueless.
Did give away a penalty, and failed to wrap Tom Wright en route to Australia’s first try.
Josh Moorby runs for the All Blacks against Australia. Photo / Photosport
10. Damian McKenzie – 7
Couldn’t hit the same heights as Eden Park, but completely excusable. Set up one try, and continued to show he’s more than capable of running a side at first-five.
Missed four tackles and three shots at goal from seven attempts, and was bumped off Filipo Daugunu.
9. Cam Roigard – 8
Created two tries with his electric skillset, as well as getting back to stop Meredith scoring a runaway try. Made eight tackles, but missed two in return.
8. Wallace Sititi – 7
Continues to make huge strides in Ardie Savea and Luke Jacobson’s absence. Looks much better as a test No 8 than he does at No 6, evidenced with his try running off the back of the scrum.
Carried for 53 metres with ball in hand to go with 10 tackles. Did give away a penalty for offside, and scrambled what appeared to be an attempt at a clearing kick.
Wallace Sititi after scoring for the All Blacks against Australia in Sydney. Photo / Photosport
7. Peter Lakai – 9
An incredible first 40 minutes, and a solid second. Started the game with a turnover on the All Blacks’ tryline, and went even better on attack – notably with a linebreak to create Beauden Barrett’s first try, before scoring the second himself.
Made the most carries on either side, 18, to go with 17 tackles – second only to Fabian Holland for the All Blacks.
Finished the game playing in midfield after Tavatavanawai made way.
6. Tupou Vaa’i – 7
Another solid outing at No 6. A safe option at the lineout, with two wins, and showed great awareness to keep the ball alive in the lead-up to the All Blacks’ second try.
Made 10 tackles, but didn’t get the chance to run the ball as much as the All Blacks might need of their No 6,
5. Fabian Holland – 9
Statement made after being left out at Eden Park.
Four lineouts won off All Blacks throws, another stolen off the Wallabies. Held up Fraser McReight to save a try, to go with
Four lineout wins, one stolen. Holds up McReight as one of his 21 tackles – the most on either side – to go with an offload.
4. Scott Barrett – 8
Has completely changed the complexion of the forward pack after his return at Eden Park having missed the tour of South Africa.
Arguably the best do-er of dirty work the All Blacks have had for a long time, with 17 tackles from 18 attempts.
Won two lineouts off All Blacks throws, but lost one – albeit a shoddy effort taken by Cortez Ratima when no hooker was on the field.
3. Fletcher Newell – 7
Had made the most tackles for the All Blacks at the time he left the field, 13. Formed a solid all-Crusaders front row that didn’t take a backwards step in the first half.
Was arguably at fault for the first try when he couldn’t wrap Meredith’s arms in a two-man tackle, allowing him to offload to Jeremy Williams.
2. Codie Taylor – 9
Another excellent showing from Taylor as captain. Was a man possessed with ball in hand – only Beauden Barrett ran more metres than Taylor, who also had 14 tackles.
Only Beauden Barrett ran for more metres than Codie Taylor against Australia. Photo / Photosport
Won four out of five lineouts thrown, and made three line breaks for good measure. Looked to have earned a rest when he was subbed off before the 50th minute, but was forced to come back on when Samisoni Taukei’aho left the field injured.
1. George Bower – 6
Made the most of a rare test start, 11 tackles but missed two. Didn’t really have a chance to show his wares at scrum time. Subbed off after 49 minutes as Rennie replaced his whole front row at once.
Reserves
16. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 6
Looked strong in an 18-minute cameo before leaving the field injured. Threw four out of four lineouts, as a huge improvement from earlier in the year.
Held up over the line after a solid run, and made six tackles in his short time on the field.
17. Xavier Numia – 5
Made four tackles in just over 30 minutes on field. A solid outing in a game that didn’t give props too great a platform to shine.
18. Pasilio Tosi – 5
Similar to Numia. Made six tackles and was more of a presence at the breakdown.
19. Shannon Frizell – 4
On after 60 minutes, but left the field injured before he’d even made a carry. Appeared to suffer a knee injury that Rennie will hope isn’t serious.
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi – 4
Replaced Frizell, and missed two tackles in a quiet night on-field.
21. Cortez Ratima – 4
Finished the game for Roigard, at a time where the All Blacks had lost the momentum they’d started the day with. Was forced to take a lineout when Taylor left the field, and went as well as you’d expect for a halfback doing a hooker’s job.
22. Chay Fihaki – 4
A well-deserved debut after being in and out of camp for the past two years as a squad member.
Showed his running game with a linebreak, but left the ball behind before he could make the final pass.
Was shown a harsh yellow card for a high shot on Joseph Sua’ali’i that shows exactly where rugby is losing ground to rival codes.
23. Rieko Ioane – 6
On the field early after Tupaea’s exit, and was forced to play centre after being initially named to cover the wing this week.
Scored the All Blacks’ fourth try with an excellent finish in the corner, and put a fullstop on his night by winning a turnover when they were down to 13 men.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.