All Blacks player ratings vs South Africa

The All Blacks were handed a second half trouncing in Wellington as a 10-7 half-time lead evaporated to a 43-10 loss.

The Springboks matched the All Blacks fast game in the first half, before running wild in the second half with five tries.

Here’s how the All Blacks rated in Wellington:

1. Ethan de Groot – 6
Scrums were unstable early but the All Blacks won a key scrum penalty in front of their own goal posts which was a big momentum swing. Off at 43 after the replacement Bok front row crushed the All Blacks and that was the start of the downfall.

2. Samisoni Taukei’aho – 6
Solid night for Taukei’aho. Had a clever break up the middle of the field which led to a big opportunity for the All Blacks before Kolbe pinched an intercept. Off at 54.

3. Tyrel Lomax – 6
Brought in to restore the All Blacks tighthead side of the scrum, there was a noticeable improvement despite some resets. Off at 43 before the game got messy.

4. Scott Barrett – 4
A quiet night for the captain who looked a little tired after last week. The game plan played away from him too. A lot of ball played out the back. Three tackles through the first hour, and three carries. Didn’t have the same energy as last week and wasn’t able to pressure the Bok lineout as much.

5. Tupou Vaa’i – 4
A mixed game for Vaa’i with the missed tackles a concern. Five missed tackles credited to him. The main lineout target kept clean ball coming for the All Blacks in the first half. Had a nice steal in the second half that led to the possession on the Jordan line break, but overall just outgunned in the tight channels.

6. Simon Parker – 4
Found himself out on the right flank during the All Blacks phase play. Produced an audacious flick pass for Savea on a deep attacking raid in the first half. Carried four times. But again, game plan didn’t really suit perhaps and found outside of the action in tight.

7. Ardie Savea – 7
First touch a key loose ball from the Boks first lineout from five out, and carried hard to get a good exit away. First steal came after eight minutes, pinching one inside his own 22. Got another turnover too and probably the All Blacks best forward with

8. Wallace Sititi – 6
Floating out left there were early signs of good ball movement from the All Blacks. That escalated nearly 20 minutes in when the All Blacks produced a vintage passage for the opening try. Off at 65 min.

9. Noah Hotham – N/A
First box kick led to a knock-on from South Africa, and he had a few on the money before a bad knock making a low tackle forced him from the field. Only had 10 minutes of play.

10. Beauden Barrett – 6
Cavalier intent from Barrett and the backs tonight to launch counter attacks from anywhere combined with a wide-wide game plan which worked for periods. But then there was the bad, a poor miss on Ethan Hooker which sparked a huge counter going the other way which was the back-breaking try to Smith.

11. Leroy Carter – 7
Debutant was good and brought some much needed fire to the All Blacks left edge. First touch had a bit of space closed down and cut sharply upfield back inside. His second touch was electric, beating multiple defenders which sparked a break down the right side in the first half. Bagged the first try on the end of champagne rugby from the All Blacks.

12. Jordie Barrett – 7
A big night for Jordie with traffic coming his way on both sides of the ball. Good under the high ball early but waned as the night went one losing a fair amount of key contests. Produced a stunning last effort try-saver on Cheslin Kolbe in the 10th minute with the Bok winger almost certain to score.

13. Billy Proctor – 5
Looked good on his first outside break from a set piece early, palming off Canan Moodie before being brought down by Kolbe. Got picked off by Kolbe for seven points the next time around, with shades of 2018.

14. Will Jordan – 5 
Smart smothering tackle on Kolbe to force a knock-on early. Had a very nice catch chasing a Hotham box kick. Had a beautiful line break early in the second half but the last pass was poor to Carter on the right. From there it went downhill for Jordan. Kicked long and dead in the second half from the right wing. Missed an opportunity to finish with the game gone. Played hard, just not his night.

15. Damian McKenzie – 4.5
Played well early but unfortunately was overwhelmed later in the game. Targeted on the opening kick-off which led to an explosive opening period from South Africa. Injected brilliantly from fullback as the All Blacks opened up to play a wide-wide game that got South Africa on the edge in the first half. Some poor game management in the backfield in the second a detractor. Kicks down Kolbe’s throat, poor offloads leading to turnovers.

Reserves

16. Brodie McAlister – 1 – on at 54. Rough night for the Chiefs’ rake. Big first throw from 10 out down 17-10. Target found but All Blacks penalised for obstruction. Pressure throw on the five was picked off moments later at the other end and the Boks scored. Next one turned over as well.
17. Tamaiti Williams – 1 – On at 43. First scrum gave away a free kick. Penalised straight out on the second. Third time lucky as they were able to win one back. A bad miss on the Snyman try.
18. Fletcher Newell – 1 – On at 43. As above, set-piece control went out the window.
19. Fabian Holland – 3 – A good steal from a lineout down 29-10, but the play kept turning as South Africa scored another. Was beat between Williams on the Snyman try.
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi – N/A – On at 65.
21. Finlay Christie – 5 – On early for Hotham. Hard to say for Christie, had better service than last week but the game just
22. Quinn Tupaea – 5 – On at 60. A couple of tough runs by Tupaea and didn’t lack effort.
23. Ruben Love – N/A – On at 65. Had an aerial tackle on Du Toit that surely would have led to a card had the Boks not scored.