-
A miffed Jerome Kaino looks uncertain after the close win over England at Eden Park. - Source: Photosport
Hmm, it wasn't pretty but they somehow got home. Check out our player ratings below.
Israel Dagg - 3.5/10
A couple of howlers, a searing burst from his own half, a couple more howlers. Left his trusty cricket-ball catching hands at home as he shelled a handful of catchable passes and looked out of alignment under the high ball. A night to forget.
Ben Smith - 4.5/10
Couldn't get his bomb diffusing going in the first half but improved thereafter. Never got a shot at his evasive running as most of the play was kicked away to the left wing. Byproduct of the issues infield.
Conrad Smith - 7.5/10
All night, C.Smith was organising and making sure the Poms didn't get away from them when they looked the better of the attacks. Made some crucial tackles on Manu Tuilagi and scored the try that saved a tonne of bacon. Player of the Match.
Ma'a Nonu - 3.5/10
First touch was his pull on the shirt to give England the 3-0 lead. His second touch was a hurried and uncoordinated punt into the hoardings without bouncing. It didn' get too much better and seeing Nonu pulled from the field after 50 minutes with a game on the line is saying something.
Cory Jane - 5.5/10
Two nice breaks down the left hand side early on had the crowd in a positive spin. He couldn't get that sort of room again, spending the night catching the ball with vultures all around him.
Aaron Cruden - 5/10
We could quite easily be talking about one of the greatest All Black blunders of our generation. Inspired decision? That is arguable when a penalty kick would have done the job at 15-15. Apart from this 'lighning rod' moment of the match, Cruden's was 5/6 kicking, sound with his out-of-hand punting but offset by some passing/playmaking errors. A pass mark that was a slither away from being a dud.
Aaron Smith - 7/10
Wasn't given any good ball in the first half but started to rule the roost better at the start of the second, making a series on sniping darts from the ruck. Tidy kicking night and gave good service that wasn't continued through the backline.
Jerome Kaino - 5.5/10
With his side unable to build any real continuity, Kaino never got the chance to charge off two away from the ruck and make some dents. Some sporadic show of his strength around the park with a hit on prop David Wilson his highlight for sure. Blew a try that could have changed the course of the match.
Richie McCaw - 5/10
Calls to retire are a tad premature but it wasn't an endearing McCaw performance. Kept some semblance of calm in the camp as they faced a shock result but one of his weaker games in his thirteen years.
Liam Messam - 4.5/10
Outshone marginally by his mate Kaino who in the coming Test matches could be the first choice blindside. Lack of impact, impetus and could possibly be carrying some mental fatigue from his tumultuous year with the Chiefs.
Sam Whitelock - 5/10
Quiet game by his consistently high levels. Go-to in the lineout but couldn't stamp his mark as he would have wished.
Brodie Retallick - 7.5/10
He looked like he was going to get away from the English winger and score the sixty metre blinder, but alas.... Steady game around the park with his standard exceptional workload. Best All Black forward on the paddock.
Owen Franks - 6/10
When he hits the ruck, bodies invariably move. Cannoning into the breakdown was his lot for the night with some tackles that shook a few foundations. Scrum not flash.
Dane Coles - 5.5/10
One lineout blemish to speak of in the first half but otherwise a subdued and solid 60 minutes from the starting hooker. With the amount of kicking that went on, he didn't get much of a shot to get his legs pumping.
Tony Woodcock - 5/10
Hot and cold in the scrum with two demolition jobs bringing on some All Black blushes late in first half. Part of a pack that couldn't impose themselves.
Subs:
Keven Mealamu - 4/10
Gave the penalty away fro Danny Cipriani to tie the game and put the AB's under extreme pressure with nine minutes remaining. Thrives when there is good ruck ball to get a roll on. Non existent last night.
Wyatt Crockett - 5.5/10
Was literally centimetres from being the hero as he dived for the line at the death. Like Faumuina, making a niche out of his impact.
Charlie Faumuina - 5.5/10
Charlie made some crushing hits in tight and pushed his weight around. A small improvement and small impact from the bench.
Patrick Tuipulotu - N/A
Victor Vito - 5.5/10
Came oh so close to the hero's return to the AB's, just pulled down metres shy. Too much kicking in the game to get a good shot.
TJ Perenara - N/A
Last five minutes for Aaron Smith.
Beauden Barrett - 3/10
The man who makes a habit out of pulling rabbits from his hat as a substitute couldn't buy a trick, dropping the ball cold in the midst of a promising movement. Nothing to write to New Plymouth about.
Malakai Fekitoa - 4/10
First taste of the action was giving away a penalty that Freddie Burns slotted for the 12-9 lead. Albeit a questionable decision, it didn't bode well for the debutant who was well marked for his half hour stint. Tried to dominate defensively but was inaccurate.
Source: One News
