Player ratings: Hanging tough
New Zealand were slightly off the standards they normally set for themselves, but still managed to hang tough and secure a win.
Despite the best efforts of the French to upset them, the All Blacks held on in the face of a fierce late rally for a 26-19 win in Paris.
The two tries to one win is as close as the game was – just one converted try in it.
Jan de Koning rates the New Zealand players!
15 Israel Dagg:
Stats will suggest that he made plenty of metres with ball in hand, but is wasn't ass effective as he can be and he also missed a couple of tackles.
5/10
14 Cory Jane:
Came close early in the game, but thereafter saw very little action. Made a couple of decent tackles.
5/10
13 Ben Smith:
Solid on defence, but struggled to impose himself in midfield – maybe he is just a fullback/wing.
5/10
12 Ma'a Nonu:
Injected himself into the game early on, but made a couple of handling errors and missed as many tackles as he made.
4/10
11 Charles Piutau:
Struggled on defence and was easily beaten on a couple of occasions, but showed his pace to score first try and produced a great offload for Kieran Read's try.
6/10
10 Daniel Carter:
May have slipped a few tackles, but was a class act – as always.
7/10
9 Aaron Smith:
Did a lot of kicking from the base and his passing was crisp. Missed just one tackle.
6/10
8 Kieran Read:
Was a huge factor in the game – plenty of tackles, scored a crucial try, won his line-outs and even stole a crucial ball on the French throw.
9/10
7 Richie McCaw (captain):
Was caught out and penalised at the breakdown a few times, but produced an enormous tackle count – the second highest in the game.
7/10
6 Liam Messam:
Penalised a couple of times and also missed a few tackles, but still worked hard.
6/10
5 Samuel Whitelock:
Made enough tackles and won a couple of line-outs, but involved in some silly off-the-ball stuff late in the game.
6/10
4 Brodie Retallick:
Early penalty for playing a man off the ball, but after that produced an enormous defensive effort – 17 tackles. Also won a vital line-out steal.
8/10
3 Owen Franks:
Went down in the first scrum and the popped up in the next and was later penalised again. His workrate can also improve.
5/10
2 Keven Mealamu:
Was caught offside a couple of times close to his line – in true Kiwi tradition giving away three points rather than five or seven. Made a handful of tackles.
6/10
1 Tony Woodcock:
Not sure what value he adds outside of the scrums – missed as many tackles as he made, four.
4/10
Replacements:
16 Dane Coles (on for Mealamu, 60th min):
Again showed up to be a lightweight and was bowled over on defence a couple of times.
4/10
17 Wyatt Crockett (on for Woodcock, 69th min):
His usual collection of penalties – still the most penalised prop in world rugby. Not long enough to be rated.
18 Charlie Faumuina (on for Franks, 53rd min):
Other than a few tackles added no real value.
5/10
19 Steven Luatua:
Not used.
20 Sam Cane:
Not used.
21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow (on for AL Smith, 71st min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Aaron Cruden (on for Carter, 52nd min):
He struggled to maintain the same momentum that Carted gave the All Blacks.
5/10
23 Ryan Crotty (on for Jane, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
