All Blacks Player Ratings vs. Wales: Robertson's Side Overcomes Hosts
All Blacks Player Ratings vs. Wales: Robertson's Side Overcomes Hosts
The All Blacks withstand early Welsh pressure and finish strong in Cardiff. Key moments from Love, Ioane and Jordan in our full All Blacks player ratings.
The All Blacks left Cardiff with a seven-try haul and a 52-26 win, but this was far from a procession.
For 60 minutes, they were forced into a genuine contest by a Welsh side playing with ambition, accuracy and a clarity of intent not seen for some time.
New Zealand was made to work, and at times, looked uncomfortable as Wales punched holes, won collisions and asked difficult questions in the wide channels.
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Yet, when the match tightened and opportunities appeared, the All Blacks showed why they remain one of the most lethal sides in world rugby.
Their strike players delivered, their decision makers settled and their finishing class turned a testing afternoon into a statement final score.
Wallace Sititi’s power, Rieko Ioane’s edge, Will Jordan’s aerial menace and the impact of the bench were the decisive factors that finally broke Welsh resistance.
This was not flawless. There were defensive lapses, a messy aerial display early on and a period where discipline wavered. But it was a performance that underlined Scott Robertson’s core themes: physicality, accuracy and the ability to produce tries from nothing. A work in progress, but a winning one.
Here is how the All Blacks players rated:
1. Tamaiti Williams - 7.5
Did not shy away from searching for work, but did notably have two first-half knock-ons that let the Welsh defense off the hook.
Making up for these moments in the 38th minute, Williams powered through three Welsh defenders to secure the All Blacks' third first-half try.
2. Samisoni Taukeiaho - 8.5
Conceded a penalty in the 14th minute for going straight off his feet at the breakdown.
His barnstorming run in the 21st minute got the All Blacks rolling and forced Wales to concede after Alex Mann went for the jackal. One of his rumbles through the Welsh defence was the carry that set up Sevu Reece’s try.
3. Pasilio Tosi - 7
Saved his side from conceding a try in the 20th minute with a spectacular turnover, having made the tackle. This turnover went down as the only turnover in the match, which is a wild stat.
Overall, the tighthead was rock-solid with a few tight carries and a presence around the breakdown that slowed Welsh ball at key moments.
4. Scott Barrett - 7
Continually looked for work but doesn’t quite have the explosive pop of yesteryear. Still, the skipper did the grunt work that laid the platform for his side to play off.
Using all of his experience to drag in multiple Welsh defenders into the breakdown to set up a numbers advantage was an underrated component of the All Blacks' attack.
5. Fabian Holland - 8.5
A notable presence at just about every ruck, the giant Dutch lock has firmly embedded himself as a key cog in Robertson’s machine.
Away from the tight exchanges, Holland had a handful of delicate touches and powerful rumbles that got his side pouring over the gainline.
Ruling the skies with 11 line-outs won further accentuates how important Holland is to this side.
6. Simon Parker - 6
For those of a certain vintage, Parker is similar to former Springbok Danie Rossouw. Rarely does he jump off the sheet in terms of flash plays, but every time he carries or makes a tackle, you can feel the impact.
7. Du Plessis Kirifi - 5
One a few All Blacks who didn’t quite get to the level required. Though he was busy, he lacked any significant punch in the carry or tackle.
His knock-on in the 47th minute on the ground ruled out his side’s fourth try.
Getting on the ball 12 times for 17 meters perhaps offers a snapshot to the lack of punch compared to what Ardie Savea routinely produces.
8. Wallace Sititi - 8.5
Set up the All Blacks second try with a thundering carry in the 28th minute.
Sititi bowled through Wales on several occasions and topped the overall carry charts with 18 for 47 meters.
9. Cortez Ratima - 7.5
Zippy service from the breakdown, he ripped out 90 passes to go with his eight kicks. Interestingly, he rarely challenged the Welsh breakdown defense with the ball in hand, but in his defense, he didn't need to, given he managed to change the point of contact with the length of his passes.
Overall, it was a strong showing in a match that no doubt was tougher than the All Blacks would've expected.
10. Damian McKenzie - 6
Another mixed bag from the Chiefs star, who struggled in one-on-one aerial contests, most notably early on against Louis Rees-Zammit.
From the kicking tee, he was exceptional, but his kicking from hand left a lot to be desired. On a number of occasions, he overcooked high kicks, which allowed Wales to relieve pressure.
11. Caleb Clarke - 9
Finished a nice early try by getting around the outside of Tom Rogers, who was left alone to defend four All Blacks by the narrow Welsh defense.
He nearly had his second in the 47th minute, only to see it chalked off due to a knock-on.
Away from this moment, Clarke was exceptional in the air and dominated at the point of contact on both sides of the ball.
He closed his account with 100 meters made with eight defenders beaten, two linebreaks and two tries.
12. Anton Lienert Brown - 8
In the first phase, the Chiefs center punched into the Welsh defense and always made yards, even if he didn’t break the line.
This impact was twofold - it had his side racing onto the ball and crucially always required multiple Welsh defenders to resource the tackle.
13. Rieko Ioane - 8
Fired up from leading the Haka and his clear descent down the pecking order in the squad, Ioane had a wide back-to-the-clock performance.
Running brilliant lines off the pairing of McKenzie and Love, Ioane made several half breaks that had the Welsh defense backpedaling and conceding penalties.
He showed great awareness in the 51st minute to rotate and reach backward to dot down for a try, which was the highlight of a strong showing.
Completing the final pass that sent Sevu Reece over was a nice touch, too.
14. Will Jordan - 8.5
Hunted every high ball with intent, even when he didn’t win the ball, he generally pressured the Welsh.
His first aerial win led to the All Blacks' first try less than a minute later.
He nearly scored the most opportunistic of tries in the 48th minute when an All Blacks line-out spat out a messy ball. While it was not the try-scoring spectacular we have become accustomed to, Jordan was the catalyst for just about every promising All Blacks attack.
15. Ruben Love - 7
Stepped up well as a second distributor and had some superb long-range kicks, one of which in the 18th minute and gained his side a solid 40 meters when Wales was probing.
His soft pass to Will Jordan in the 21st minute was a moment of magic that nearly unlocked the Welsh defense.
Seven minutes later, the Hurricane picked the lock and raced away for his side’s second try.
In the second half, he slipped back a touch from the action and eventually was replaced by Sevu Reece in the 53rd minute.
Replacements
16. George Bell - 7
Replaced the impressive Samisoni Taukeiaho and went looking for carries, getting on the ball five times.
The Chiefs' hooker made some solid yards against a tiring Welsh defense.
17. Fletcher Newell - 6
Came on in the 54th minute and carried well, handled the set-piece perfectly and was solid without bringing the dynamism of Williams.
18. George Bower - 5
Came on in the 54th minute and did most of his work at the breakdown, where he was a notable operator.
19. Josh Lord - 5
Filled the void left by Fabian Holland with aplomb, the giant Chiefs’ lock went after the breakdown and sprinkled in a few strong carries.
20. Christian Lio Willie - 5
Afforded a relatively short 13-minute cameo to close out the encounter, Lio Willie didn’t have too many major impacts but got through a handful of tackles and three carries.
21. Finlay Christie - 7.5
Instantly brought a clear structure to the All Blacks' attack.
While the Scottish-born scrumhalf has, at times, come in for criticism for being conservative, his pinpoint box kicking game and ability to dictate tempo are perfect for the modern laws.
22. Leicester Fainga'anuku - 8
He came agonizingly close to getting over in the 69th minute, and Fainga'anuku brought punch from the bench.
Straight from the kickoff, two minutes later, he whipped out a long pass to Caleb Clarke, before offloading to Will Jordan, as the All Blacks went 60 meters in a flash.
Finding Ioane in the 78th minute after making a searing break, the Crusader ensured that Caleb Clarke broke the 50-point barrier.
23. Sevu Reece - 8
Upped the ante when he replaced Ruben Love, scoring a try after just a few minutes on the pitch.
It was hunger for work that most stood out, as he shunted much bigger Welsh forwards off the breakdown, and his roaming behind the likes of Damian McKenzie put some nice depth into the All Blacks' attack.
Leaving Jarod Evans for dust in the 69th minute for his second try, Reece fully justified his early addition to the second half.
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