Player Ratings: Ireland vs. New Zealand

Player Ratings: Ireland vs. New Zealand

Following Ireland's historic win over the All Blacks in Dublin we have rated every starting player from the clash out of a possible 10.

Ireland

1. Cian Healy - 8

Massive at scrum time and around the park making 7 carries and 9 tackles.


2. Rory Best - 8

Was the anchor of a powerful scrummaging performance. Like Healy, Best got stuck in on attack and defence making 8 tackles and 6 carries and was good at the breakdown.


He also put in a massive hit on Kieran Read.

3. Tadhg Furlong - 8.5

Dominated at scrum time and was physical in everything he did. He made a number of big hits and was effective in everything he did.

4. Devin Toner - 8

An excellent performance by the big man who built on a great impact off the bench against Argentina. His work at the lineout was exceptional so was his work rate as he made 13 tackles in just over an hour.

5. James Ryan - 9

16 carries and 19 tackles, James Ryan was everywhere against the All Blacks! The 22-year-old stepped up against the World Champions and had an outstanding game.

6. Peter O’Mahony - 9.5

O'Mahony was superb with every single thing he did against the All Blacks. His lineouts were great as per usual and he stopped a number of All Blacks' attacks with some sublime work at the breakdown and great cover tackles.

7. Josh van der Flier - 7.5

Van der Flier was the quietest Irish back-rower against the All Blacks but still weighed in with 16 tackles and 8 carries.

8. CJ Stander - 8.5

Stander was Ireland's go to man on attack making 22 carries - one less than Beauden Barrett. He forced his way over the try line in the early stages of the game was ultimately held up. 

On defence, he made 8 tackles and got stuck into the rucks along with Peter O'Mahony. 

9. Kieran Marmion - 7.5

A solid outing for the 26-year-old who filled in for the injured Conor Murray. His service was pinpoint and helped Ireland take the ball through a number of phase on multiple occasions.

One or two questionable kicks but otherwise the Connacht halfback stood up to the challenge.

10. Johnny Sexton - 8.5

Sexton's kicks were excellent throughout the game as he maintained a 100% record from the tee and got Ireland out of a few sticky situations at key times.

He struggled to gain ground on attack but did manage to put his teammates into space and created a number of opportunities for his side.

11. Jacob Stockdale - 9

An excellent performance by the young speedster in all facets of the game.

His performance was up there with that of Peter O'Mahony and narrowly missed out on the man of the match award and a full rating score.

He scored a sublime try in 48th minute and was a threat everytime he got the ball. He was also brilliant in the air and made more running metres than any other player.

He marked Ben Smith brilliantly with his only mistake being a kick that was charged down by Kieran Read that could have cost his side a try.

12. Bundee Aki - 7 

A quiet game for Aki but he got the job done. He and Stander carried the ball to the line on a regular basis and did well to keep Ryan Crotty quiet. 

13. Garry Ringrose - 7 

Ringrose was excellent on defence making all but one of his 13 attempted tackles. His decision making on defence kept the All Blacks at bay but he struggled to make metres on attack.

14. Keith Earls - 7.5

Earls did an excellent job in chasing Sexton and Marmion's kicks down and applying the pressure on the All Blacks. He saw little ball on attack but did show some nifty footwork when the ball did come his way.

15. Rob Kearney - 8

Kearney did well to defuse a number of the All Blacks threats on defence and was solid in the air as well. He was unlucky not score in the opening stages of the game but did manage to rack up 39 running metres. His kicking game was also on point.

New Zealand

1. Karl Tu'inukuafe - 5

Was dominated at scrum time and struggled to get into the game on attack. Made all of his tackles before being taken off in the 46th minute.


2. Codie Taylor - 5

Struggled in the scrums and was largely ineffective on attack. Made all 7 of his attempted tackles.


3. Owen Franks - 7

His efforts on defence earning a much better rating than his fellow front rowers but Franks will be dissapointed by his performance at scrum time with Cian Healy getting the better of him.

He made 14 tackles in the 46 minutes he was on the pitch and won a turnover.


4. Brodie Retallick - 7.5

A slightly off game for the consistent All Black second rower. He made 9 tackles and managed 4 turnovers before giving his side a chance to clinch a draw with a few steals at the lineout. 

5. Samuel Whitelock - 7.5

Whitelock did well to slow Ireland's attack down but was penalised multiple times for doing so. Otherwise, he relatively busy hitting double digits in the carries and tackles made categories.

6. Liam Squire - 4

Ineffective with his carries and struggled to get going for the All Blacks before leaving the field with an injury in the 30th minute.

7. Ardie Savea - 8

One of the best All Blacks on the day, Savea was physical at the breakdown and in his carries while also making a few crucial tackles.

He made a nice cover tackle on Bundee Aki and finished the game with 14 tackles and 2 turnovers.

8. Kieran Read - 5

A testing game for Read with the All Blacks' captain on the wrong end of a few big hits. He did hit double digits in the tackles and carries departments but made a number of uncharacteristic errors. 


9. Aaron Smith - 5

Smith was unable to spark the All Blacks attack despite providing good service for the likes of Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie. 

His night was cut short when he was replaced by TJ Perenara before the hour mark.


10. Beauden Barrett - 7

Barrett was a regular threat everytime he attacked the line and nudged over his second drop goal of his career. 

The All Blacks playmaker scored all 9 of the All Blacks points and exited well for his side.


11. Rieko Ioane - 6

Ioane was threatening when he had the ball but was excellently marked by Keith Earls. He made more running metres than any other All Black.

12. Ryan Crotty - 8

Crotty was unable to inspire his side to victory like he did last week but was massive on defence making all 18 of his attempted tackles in the hour he was out on the pitch.


13. Jack Goodhue - 8

Another huge effort defensively by the young All Black who finished the game with 19 tackles. His defensive decisions were excellent but like a number of the All Black backs he wasn't able to provide the spark on attack. 

14. Ben Smith - 6.5

Smith saw little ball but did make the most of his opportunities racking up 47 runnning metres and beat 2 defenders.

As per usual he was good in the air and made all but one of his attempted tackles.

15. Damian McKenzie - 6 

McKenzie looked to open up the Irish defence on multiple occasions but was brilliantly shut down.

He was safe under the high ball and showed off his deadly sidestep before the All Blacks changed their tactics and replaced him with Richie Mo'unga going into the flyhalf role. 

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