Aus & NZ Player Ratings - Rugby365

[AndyS]

Interesting as an independent view.

Australia

15 Adam Ashley-Cooper: 6/10
Some really strong running, making good ground. he was solid and one of the Aussie stars.

14 Peter Hynes: 5/10
Very steady and solid, produced a few strong runs, but not enough opportunities .

13 Ryan Cross (replaced by Barnes in 54th minute): 5/10
Combining well with Mortlock in the first half, but nothing special after the break.

12 Stirling Mortlock (captain): 5/10
Strong as always and tried hard, but father time seems to have caught up with him

11 Drew Mitchell: 6/10
Two great first-half tries and really looked to be the spark that will fire the Aussies up for a win. However, he had a quiet second half.

10 Matt Giteau: 6/10
He did really well to get up after a big Jerome Kaino hit in first half. was running the show, as he often does, before the break. A few mistakes at crucial stages in the last 20 minutes took some gloss off his performance.

9 Luke Burgess: 5/10
Under pressure, but seemed to hold up well. There were a couple of snipes around the edges, but generally just steady.

8 Richard Brown: 7/10
Gave away and early penalty for deliberately slowing down and was later also warned, but his work rate is incredible at the breakdown was the Wallabies' best forward.

7 George Smith: 7/10
Also and early penalty, but as always had a great workrate. Great hands for Mitchell's second try and some strong running.

6 Dean Mumm: 5/10
He did good work in the line-outs, although he wasn't as much of an influence at the breakdown that was expected.

5 Nathan Sharpe (replaced by Waugh in 63rd minute): 4/10
Rather quiet by his standards.

4 Mark Chisholm: 6/10
Great tackle on Richie McCaw to win a penalty and good work in the line-outs. One of Australia's better players.

3 Al Baxter (replaced by Dunning in 72nd minute): 3/10
Early warnings at scrum time and then a penalty after 10 minutes. Still don't understand what the Australians see in him. Maybe they just don't have any better.

2 Stephen Moore: 4/10
A couple of strong runs, but undid the good work with his illegal play that earned him two warnings and then again a penalty at a ruck and a final warning.

1 Benn Robinson: 4/10
Part of the Aussie scrum problem, but his workrate outside of that is better that most. Unfortunately he was also penalised at scrum time (maybe hard done by in this case).

Replacements (20 minutes or more to be rated):

16 Adam Freier:
Not used

17 Matt Dunning (on for Baxter in 72nd minute):
Not enough time to be rated.

18 Phil Waugh (on for Sharpe in 63rd minute):
Not enough time to be rated.

19 David Pocock:
Note used

20 Sam Cordingley:
Not used

21 Berrick Barnes (on for Cross in 54th minute): 5/10
Looked full of running, but no real impact.

22 Lachie Turner:
Not used.

New Zealand

15 Isaia Toeava (replaced by Jane in the 75th minute): 6/10
He did a fine job at the back, showing great hands for Sivivatu's try. Had a powerful run early in second half.

14 Hosea Gear: 4/10
Had a quiet game and not really in the mix yet.

13 Conrad Smith: 6/10
He also showed great hands in helping to set up Sivivatu's try. Otherwise steady, without being spectacular. However, he does deserve praise for his defence.

12 Dan Carter: 8/10
Even when playing at inside centre he looked more the part of a flyhalf. Creative as always and running the show. However, he was at his best when he moved back to flyhalf.

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu: 6/10
Scored a great try and had a few good runs. Wasn't a day for expansive rugby.

10 Stephen Donald (replaced by Nonu in 48th minute): 4/10
Made a steady start, but quickly digressed into mediocrity. Was replaced early in second half.

9 Jimmy Cowan (replaced by Weepu in 50th minute): 5/10
He did his job, but never rose to any great heights.

8 Rodney So'oialo (blood bin in 15th minute): 7/10
Worked hard and was physical as always. Literally bled for his country.

7 Richie McCaw (captain): 7/10
The was an early knock-on and a free kick or two, but generally produced what we expect from McCaw - a quality performance.

6 Jerome Kaino: 6/10
He is growing into the blindside role and is beginning to combine very well with McCaw and So'oialo.

5 Ali Williams: 6/10
He did his job adequately - hard as always and worked hard in the set pieces and at the breakdown.

4 Brad Thorn (replaced by Boric in 63rd minute): 6/10
Some really hard work in tight and phase play, while his physical presence was invaluable.

3 Neemia Tialata (replaced by Somerville in 63rd minute): 5/10
He did well in the scrums, but wasn't much of a factor elsewhere on the field.

2 Andrew Hore ( replaced by Mealamu in 5th minute):
Limped off in the fifth minute with an ankle injury. Not long enough to be rated.

1 Tony Woodcock: 6/10
Also very strong in the scrums and did some good work around the field.

Replacements (20 minutes or more to be rated):

16 Keven Mealamu (replaced Hore in the 5th minute): 3/10
His line-out throwing is still and issue and he seems to have lost his zip.

17 Greg Somerville (on for Tialata in 63rd minute):
He came on for what may well be his last All Black Test - but then we also said so two months ago. Not enough time to be rated.

18 Anthony Boric (on for Thorn in 63rd minute):
Not enough time to be rated.

19 Adam Thomson (on in 15th minute for So'oialo, blood bin - then on for Kaino in 72nd minute):
Not enough time to be rated.

20 Piri Weepu (on for Cowan in 50th minute): 6/10
Lively as always and adding a spark to the All Black backs - asking questions of the defence.

21 Ma'a Nonu (on for Donald in 48th minute): 5/10
He ran hard and looked for work, but still too predictable and offers little more than a crash-ball player.

22 Cory Jane (on for Toeava in the 75th minute):
Not enough time to be rated

[travelling_gerry]

You really have to wonder about these clowns who rate these matches.

Do they ever go back over the tape and make notes???

I mean Pocock "note used".

[Burgs]

Little bit biased on Carter there I feel, no 8/10 matches by anyone for mine.
I wonder if Robinson has ever tried playing at #2, his body size is more appropriate for there and he does do alright around the park.

[Burgs]

Not effectively used I would agree with...

[Swee_82]

TG- they still have Frier on the list too.

A few people around here would argue I'd be biased in favour of AAC (as opposed to this 'independent' view), but I reckon these ratings are a little kind to him, quite a few kicks we a little off where they should have been (into the 22 for a reasonably easy mark, and at least one over the dead ball line I think) and defiantely wouldn't have called him one of the stars on the night.

Also quite liked Burgess' effort- some good, quick delivery. not a blemishless performance, but I'd probably be kinder than a 5.

I think Stephen Moore was well fed up with Lewis by the end of the game (we're we all)- from memory, one of the later penalties this guy is refering to was failure to roll away, even though he was quite clearly being pinned down by a kiwi*


* alright, gagger tells us this penalty was actually for someone else's hands in the ruck, since I couldn't hear the commentry I'll take his word for it

[travelling_gerry]

15 Adam Ashley-Cooper A lot of talent but still not a fullback. Kicking game still one dimensional and took the wrong option on the first AB try 4/10
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper: 6/10
Some really strong running, making good ground. he was solid and one of the Aussie stars.



14 Peter Hynes - Not seeing the penetration or threat an international winger should have 4/10
14 Peter Hynes: 5/10
Very steady and solid, produced a few strong runs, but not enough opportunities .



13 Ryan Cross - Always had the defense guessing, has a great ability to find the gap between tacklers and exploit it, as well as being aware of the players around him. Still some questions in defense but looked fresher than Mortlock in the second half and I would have kept him on. 6/10
13 Ryan Cross (replaced by Barnes in 54th minute): 5/10
Combining well with Mortlock in the first half, but nothing special after the break.



12 Stirling Mortlock (C), I thought this could well be another disaster but actually Morty had a very good first half (apart from blowing a two man overlap from Gits' run and the move from the penalty scrum), which included a couple of great range kicks. Second half though he was out of it. Is it age, fitness, bad shoulder, or all three? Morty staying captain is costing Deans flexibility, not to mention our habit of surrendering leads under him 6/10
12 Stirling Mortlock (captain): 5/10
Strong as always and tried hard, but father time seems to have caught up with him



11 Drew Mitchell Looked most confident of the three at the back and could see when to run. Showed that the tries in the RWC were no fluke - getting over the line and grounding the first was no easy feat. Made his case for a permanent slot, but would like to see more of his creativity. 7/10
11 Drew Mitchell: 6/10
Two great first-half tries and really looked to be the spark that will fire the Aussies up for a win. However, he had a quiet second half.


10 Matt Giteau, Keeps delivering wonder pills from no-where and his touch kicking gets better and better (minus the error early in the second half that led to the first AB try). However, there's still only one speed - attack - and more control needed in a tactical kicking game to be a true five-eighth 6/10
10 Matt Giteau: 6/10
He did really well to get up after a big Jerome Kaino hit in first half. was running the show, as he often does, before the break. A few mistakes at crucial stages in the last 20 minutes took some gloss off his performance.



9 Luke Burgess, We've remembered what all the fuss was about. The clearing and defense at the ruck was immense - it's like he's playing in a whole different era and position to Cordingly. Add to that the scrmbling kick defense and last ditch tackles like the one he pulled off in the corner on Toeava, and he was potentially the best player on the pitch G&GRs Wallaby man of the match 8/10
9 Luke Burgess: 5/10
Under pressure, but seemed to hold up well. There were a couple of snipes around the edges, but generally just steady.



8 Richard Brown, considering it was his first starting berth, he made impact with his running from depth and aggression at the breakdown. Gave away some silly penalties though 6/10
8 Richard Brown: 7/10
Gave away and early penalty for deliberately slowing down and was later also warned, but his work rate is incredible at the breakdown was the Wallabies' best forward.



7 George Smith, the ref effectively nullified his natural scavenging game, but nevertheless Smith kept springing up whether in defense or throwing golden pills like the one that put Mitchell in the corner 7/10
7 George Smith: 7/10
Also and early penalty, but as always had a great workrate. Great hands for Mitchell's second try and some strong running.



6 Dean Mumm, Put his hand up with a great work rate. His chasing of McCaw to force one of our few turnover penalties was a great example 6/10
6 Dean Mumm: 5/10
He did good work in the line-outs, although he wasn't as much of an influence at the breakdown that was expected.



5 Nathan Sharpe, Unfortunately the only thing that was new was the weirdo beard. Still sees his role in the backline (see where he's hanging around for Mitchells second try) and it spoke volumes when Deans once more yanked him off early, even with the lack of height in the pack. As the veteran jumper, what's going on with the line-out? 3/10
5 Nathan Sharpe (replaced by Waugh in 63rd minute): 4/10
Rather quiet by his standards.



4 Mark Chisholm, some evidence here that a seaguller can reform. Chisholm got his head down for some of the tough stuff and pressured them through the ruck. It was him on Robinson's arse when they went for the rumble throught the ABs 22 that led to the first try. 5/10
4 Mark Chisholm: 6/10
Great tackle on Richie McCaw to win a penalty and good work in the line-outs. One of Australia's better players.



3 Al Baxter, despite the ref's pre-conceptions, you can argue that he almost had the measure of Woodcock. And that's a lot different to the conversation we're used to. 5/10
3 Al Baxter (replaced by Dunning in 72nd minute): 3/10
Early warnings at scrum time and then a penalty after 10 minutes. Still don't understand what the Australians see in him. Maybe they just don't have any better.



2 Stephen Moore, made yards around the park and is looking more and more confident when packing down. Needs to watch the penalties and overthrowing at the line-out though 5/10
2 Stephen Moore: 4/10
A couple of strong runs, but undid the good work with his illegal play that earned him two warnings and then again a penalty at a ruck and a final warning.



1 Benn Robinson, it's official; a Wallaby prop quite clearly had it over his opposite number - in this case Tealata. A scrummaging display verging on the dominant from the Wagyu King with a few runs, tackles and passes thrown in 7/10.

1 Benn Robinson: 4/10
Part of the Aussie scrum problem, but his workrate outside of that is better that most. Unfortunately he was also penalised at scrum time (maybe hard done by in this case).

[robyn <3]

3 Al Baxter (replaced by Dunning in 72nd minute): 3/10
Early warnings at scrum time and then a penalty after 10 minutes. Still don't understand what the Australians see in him. Maybe they just don't have any better.

i don't think that should have made me laugh as much as it did, but good grief that was funny!