Fabian Holland displayed a solid all-round performance despite a couple of handling errors.
\nPhoto \/ SmartFrame<\/p>\n
5. Patrick Tuipulotu – 7<\/p>\n
Tuipulotu, relieved of the captaincy duties for this game, was typically physical. The veteran was a reliable ball carrier and lineout option, front-footing New Zealand\u2019s productive mauling tactic in the first half before being subbed off for Josh Lord in the second stanza.<\/p>\n
6. Simon Parker – 4<\/p>\n
Parker probably put himself out of the running for the All Blacks No 6 jumper against the Springboks next weekend<\/a>. The blindside flanker was slow off the scrum in the second half, allowing Bulls No 8 Jeandre Rudolph to run and create the Bulls\u2019 second try. Parker made nine tackles and won five lineouts but had only six carries from 80 minutes.<\/p>\n 7. Anton Segner – 9<\/p>\n Segner was everywhere on defence in a dynamic, man-of-the-match performance featuring 13 tackles and three turnovers. The German made a crucial jackal steal 5m from New Zealand\u2019s line and another in their 22 a few minutes later. He ripped the ball free in a tackle early in the second half, held a player up over the line and ran hard for his 12 carries. Segner should at least lock in a spot on the bench for test one against the Springboks.<\/p>\n 8. Peter Lakai – 7<\/p>\n Lakai was particularly dangerous on the edge with his ability to shirk the first defender and give offloads to his outside backs and centres. The loosie unselfishly passed to Moorby for the winger\u2019s second try after bumping off Bulls winger Thaakir Abrahams in the corner.<\/p>\n 9. Cortez Ratima – 7<\/p>\n Ratima\u2019s performance was highlighted by quick, accurate delivery from the breakdowns and a measured kicking display. The halfback expertly milked a penalty with a sharp pass into the back of a retreating Francois Klopper, who was yellow-carded. Ratima also made five tackles.<\/p>\n 10. Josh Jacomb – 7<\/p>\n The Chiefs playmaker<\/a> made a highly promising starting debut. Jacomb managed the game brilliantly, highlighted by some creative general play kicking, including a 50\/22. He was defensively sound despite being one of the smallest players on the park. Jacomb drew two defenders in setting up Josh Moorby for the opening try and showed great skill in keeping a Willie Le Roux touch-finder in play.<\/p>\n 11. Josh Moorby – 9<\/p>\n Moorby produced a dazzling display, carrying his hot Super Rugby form<\/a> into the international arena with ease. The winger made 13 carries for 75m and beat seven defenders. Moorby stepped Bulls winger Stravino Jacobs for New Zealand\u2019s opening try and touched down again in the corner a few minutes later. His footwork created space, and he linked strongly with the centres, even appearing on the right edge to combine with Carter in the second half. Moorby\u2019s given coach Dave Rennie a clear case for a starting jersey next weekend following Caleb Clarke\u2019s shoulder injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n 12. Anton Lienert-Brown – 6<\/p>\n The veteran midfielder had a fairly quiet night but did very little wrong. Lienert-Brown finished with only five tackles but produced 12 carries and two offloads, getting more involved in the second half. He also made a brilliant clearance kick under pressure.<\/p>\n 13. Rieko Ioane – 7<\/p>\n Ioane delivered a composed and mature performance at centre, proving himself a reliable backup. The midfielder made 15 carries for a game-high 109m, plus four offloads and eight tackles. He produced some threatening pace in the wider channels and showed maturity in knowing when to give the pass and when to carry into contact. Ioane scored a try down the right edge early in the second half.<\/p>\n 14. Leroy Carter – 8<\/p>\n Carter was New Zealand\u2019s most dangerous ball-runner alongside Moorby, making a game-high five linebreaks and 16 carries. The winger scored two tries in the second half, benefiting as a support runner. He had an eye-catching aerial moment, collecting a Barrett bomb and offloading to Ioane in the lead-up to Moorby\u2019s second try. He went looking for work, popping up in the middle of the field and displaying electric footwork and pace to set up Ioane\u2019s try. Carter unfortunately conceded four turnovers, the only blight on his display.<\/p>\n 15. Beauden Barrett – 7<\/p>\n Barrett produced a brilliant attacking performance despite some defensive wobbles. The veteran\u2019s strong kicking was crucial in helping the All Blacks to win the territory battle and diffuse danger in the 22. He also tested the Bulls\u2019 cover defence with grubbers and bombs. Off the ball, there were a few issues. Barrett overran a cover tackle, letting in the Bulls\u2019 second try. The fullback was late to a breakdown as a support player, allowing a turnover.<\/p>\n Reserves<\/p>\n 16. Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho – 6<\/p>\n Taukei\u2019aho deserves credit for the scrum, which remained solid in the second half. The hooker made 10 tackles, the third most of any All Black despite coming off the bench, with zero misses. However, a loopy lineout throw was easily pinched, and he conceded two penalties. <\/p>\n 17. George Bower – 6<\/p>\n Bower helped maintain the reliable scrummaging platform set by the starting front row. The reserve loosehead made 10 tackles and missed two.<\/p>\n 18. Siale Lauaki – 5<\/p>\n The newcomer was not overly involved in general play but deserves credit for the set piece remaining solid in the second half.<\/p>\n 19. Josh Lord – 5<\/p>\n Lord made seven tackles and three carries, but none particularly dominant. He looked a little flat-footed at times but hit plenty of rucks.<\/p>\n 20. Wallace Sititi – 6<\/p>\n The No 8 was a powerful ball carrier. Sititi broke a tackle with his first run and scored a try under the sticks running a support line. He unfortunately knocked the ball on at a lineout after Holland\u2019s delivery.<\/p>\n 21. Kyle Preston – 3<\/p>\n Preston failed to match the delivery and kicking game of Ratima. The halfback made a poor clearing kick 5m from New Zealand\u2019s line, which missed touch and only reached the 22m-line. He looked indecisive from the base of the ruck, allowing the defence to creep up. Preston\u2019s pass from an attacking lineout inside the Bulls\u2019 22 fell well short of the first receiver, but the bounce was kind.<\/p>\n 22. Timoci Tavatavanawai – 7<\/p>\n The Fijian made an immediate impact with ball in hand, putting Bulls centre Stedman Gans on his backside with his first carry. Tavatavanawai almost always broke the first tackle.<\/p>\n 23. Emoni Narawa – 3<\/p>\n Narawa had very limited opportunities to impress and was inaccurate in the chances he got. The winger completely missed a shallow Bulls bomb which subsequently bounced favourably for New Zealand. He dropped the ball with a rushed pick-and-go instead of clearing the breakdown after a dazzling Moorby break in the final play.<\/p>\n Nathan Limm<\/a> has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast<\/a> and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"3. Tyrel Lomax – 7 Lomax helped the All Blacks\u2019 scrum demolish the Bulls\u2019 pack for a penalty…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":570252,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[281182,5263,95,53783,8136,58032,1121,2082,1433,5812,281181,111,139,69,1523,9617,26809,10468,10465,228461,17879,213,18835,765],"class_list":["post-570251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-281182","tag-all","tag-and","tag-anton","tag-blacks","tag-bulls","tag-case","tag-for","tag-josh","tag-make","tag-moorby","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-over","tag-player","tag-pretoria","tag-rated","tag-ratings","tag-segner","tag-selection","tag-sports","tag-strong","tag-test"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=570251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/570251\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/570252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=570251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=570251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=570251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Man-of-the-match flanker Anton Segner made three turnovers. Photo \/ SmartFrame<\/p>\n
Josh Moorby scored two tries and beat seven defenders. Photo \/ Photsport<\/p>\n
Leroy Carter scored two tries and made a game-high five linebreaks. Photo\/ Photosport<\/p>\n