Player ratings: Wallabies fall flat
For all the talk of recapturing the Bledisloe Cup, the Wallabies were utterly underwhelming on home soil on Saturday.
Throughout the week the Australians talked the talk but come kick-off they were unable to walk the walk against their trans-Tasman rivals.
The hosts were often their own worst enemy and blew a golden opportunity to end their decade-long Bledisloe Cup drought by falling flat in the opener.
The defeat in Sydney means the All Blacks need only win their home fixture against the Wallabies in Auckland next Saturday to retain the coveted cup.
Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Wallaby players.
15 Kurtley Beale
Had a real shocker. A poor man-on-man miss on Israel Dagg, threw away three points by taking a quick tap when they were 13-3 down and a shocking unforced knock-on inside his own 22 that resulted in a set-piece try. And those were just the most costly of his errors. An all-round mare!
3/10
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper
Kept Hosea Gear in check and had little chances on attack.
5/10
13 Rob Horne
Hardly troubled the All Blacks with ball in hand. Did his bit on defence though.
5/10
12 Anthony Faingaa
A recurring theme, solid on defence but unimaginative on attack. The key for the considerably smaller Wallaby centres was to use their speed and foot work to leave their much larger foes for dead. They were unable to do so.
5/10
11 Digby Ioane
The best of the Wallaby backs. He made good ground with his hard running and consistently committed more than one defender to bringing him to ground. Also wasn’t content to stand on his wing and went looking for work.
6/10
10 Berrick Barnes
After his brilliant performances against Wales, Barnes flopped in a major way against the All Blacks. It was his execution that let him down the most as his tactical kicking wasn’t up to standard and he threw some errant passes. Expect Quade Cooper to be reinstated next week.
5/10
9 Will Genia
Much too slow from the base to give his backs any opportunities to break the line. Made one good darting run before he crept back into his shell.
5/10
8 Scott Higginbotham
The most industrious Wallaby forward, Higginbotham’s workrate was exceptional. Over and above his general play he was the hosts’ main line-out jumper. Will be kicking himself that he coughed up a great opportunity near the end of the first half.
6/10
7 David Pocock
Wasn’t allowed to play his natural game at the breakdown and was subsequently negated as a threat. The added responsibility of captaining the Wallabies is evidently still a burden at this stage of his career.
5.5/10
6 Dave Dennis
His inexperience at Test level showed as he battled to get into the game and was thoroughly outplayed by his opposite number.
5/10
5 Nathan Sharpe
The old warhorse turned back the clock and produced an inspired performance. He was the Wallabies’ go-to ball carrier and fulfilled this role expertly against the aggressive defence of the All Blacks. His try was just reward for a courageous 80-minute effort.
7/10
4 Sitaleki Timani
Was brought in to beef up the Wallaby pack and in that sense, his selection wasn’t a complete failure as he brought some stability to the Wallaby scrum.
5/10
3 Sekope Kepu
Penalised at scrum time and outworked by the All Black front rowers across the park.
4.5/10
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau
Solid in the set-pieces but could have featured more as ball carrier.
5/10
1 Benn Robinson
Conceded a number of demoralising penalties inside Wallaby territory that allowed Dan Carter to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
4/10
Replacements:
16 Stephen Moore (on for Polota-Nau, 60th minute)
Didn’t do enough to push for a starting berth.
17 James Slipper (on for Robinson, 77th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Rob Simmons (on for Timani, 40th minute – blood bin)
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Radike Samo (on for Dennis, 64th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Michael Hooper
Not used.
21 Nick Phipps
Not used.
22 Drew Mitchell
Not used.
