Player Ratings: New Zealand

OPINION: The All Blacks have comprehensively beaten the Wallabies for the second week in a row by 43-21 in Sydney.

In a game that mirrored the 2024 contest at the same venue, the All Blacks put up a 36-7 half-time lead before Australia edged the second half.

Ben Smith rates the All Blacks:

1. George Bower – 8
First scrum wasn’t until the 31st minute for the All Blacks front row, but the engine room was busy in defence, all racking up double-digit tackles in their 49 minutes. They were impressive controlling the gain line and nullifying the roll of the Wallabies.

2. Codie Taylor – 9
Busy afternoon for Taylor early with three line breaks inside the first 15 minutes. The hooker continued his high work rate, completing 12 tackles and keeping the set piece lineout at 100 per cent while on the field.

3. Fletcher Newell – 8.5
High number of carries from Newell. Great defence in close. Made 13 tackles with his time on the field.

4. Scott Barrett – 8
An understated game built on off-the-ball work, cleaning rucks and tough defence in close.

5. Fabian Holland – 8.5
Lineout option. Controlled the gain line in the contact areas, with the ball carriers unable to power through the towering lock. Pinched a key Wallabies lineout that led to Ioane’s try.

6. Tupou Vaa’i – 7
The No.6 had a solid game with nine tackles. He played out the back to his No.10 more than he carried, kept a clean sheet, and

7. Peter Lakai – 9.5
The double-headed monster of Lakai & Sititi in the carry game proved hard to put down. Lakai had a world-class performance. Had an early turnover inside his 22 after sustained Wallabies attack, killing off a key possession. Became the All Blacks’ weapon on attack, breaking the line multiple times in the first half. Powered over from close range to take a try. Had 17 carries and 15 tackles.

8. Wallace Sititi – 9.5
Again, Sititi is looking back to his very best at No.8 in the form that won him Breakthrough Player of the Year two years ago. He looked dangerous on early carries, produced a nice offload for a half-line break. Put in a silly grubber kick coming out of trouble. Big defensive tackles in close on the Wallabies’ ball carriers. Ran onto a beautiful flat pass for a break between the midfielders. Broke off the back of a five metre scrum for an easy try.

9. Cam Roigard – 9
Became highly influential around the rucks after front-foot ball that had the Wallabies on the back foot. Produced a nice double pump for Moorby to punch through and offload in the lead-up to Lakai’s try.

10. Damian McKenzie – 9
McKenzie put on a faultless display at Accor Stadium, running a lethal attack out of the back of the pods. He had beautiful interlink play to open up the Wallabies with a line break to Peter Lakai before Beauden Barrett finished the possession. He was involved in half a dozen line breaks, and the Wallabies had no answer to limit his effectiveness. At one point Harry Wilson tried to shoot out and tackle him early, but he skipped away to the outside.

11. Joshua Moorby – 8
Moorby was safe as houses under the high ball. Scored the first try with a dummy on Suaalii and slipped through the tackle of Valetini out wide on the left edge; had another dummy on Jorgensen for a walk-in try.

12. Timoci Tavatavanawai – 8
The All Blacks’ unexpected starting No.12 showed great touches all day with fast hands and nice timing on the swing plays out the back. Was always a handful to put down when he carried. Burst up the middle early in the second half and had a big bump on Jorgensen. It was a settled showing with no errors.

13. Quinn Tupaea – N/A
First touch down the right-hand side looked enterprising before the tackle took him over the sideline. Was forced from the field for an HIA.

14. Will Jordan – 7
A short but impressive afternoon for Jordan. He was secure under the high ball and linked into the back play off his wing with beauty. Came off early in the second half for Chay Fihaki.

15. Beauden Barrett – 9
A vintage display by Barrett at fullback that featured some great moments. He had a great 1-on-1 tackle on Jorgensen on the Wallabies first line break. Next time around, he shot out of the line while Jorgensen went past him on the short ball. Before Moorby’s try, he had a line break running a flat ball into space. Crashed over for his 47th Test try, holding off the defence with the threat of the pass before crashing over Meredith. Picked off Jorgensen for an intercept try right on half-time, outrunning Tom Wright for 70 metres. Took a try off Delcan Meredith with an exceptional last-ditch tackle that dislodged the ball as he was looking for space to put it down.

Reserves

16. Samisoni Taukei’aho – big first-up defence on Harry Wilson, with Tosi putting the No.8 on his back. Held up over the line after a strong carry.

17. Xavier Numia

18. Pasilio Tosi

19. Shannon Frizell – Went on but came off injured, leaving the All Blacks a man down for the final period.

20. Du’Plessis Kirifi – Gave away a penalty advantage for not rolling. Had one gang tackle with Ioane that resulted in a Wallabies knock-on.

21. Cortez Ratima – All Blacks were on defence for a large portion of his time on the field. Executed a few box kicks.

22. Chay Fihaki – Had a great line break early, copped a yellow card with five minutes to go with a tackle on Suaalii.

23. Rieko Ioane – 8 – Came on the 2nd minute. Wallabies tested his outside channel a lot with success. Multiple line breaks through well-executed play. Scored in his favourite corner at Accor with a try on the left flank outside Jordan.

@RugbyPass