The All Blacks have started the post McCaw era with a 3-0 series sweep of Wales. The first two Tests played out in a similar fashion with Wales challenging strongly in the first hour before fading. The third Test was a runaway victory for the hosts who have won 11 Tests in a row.
Despite the All Blacks appearing to be resounding favourites for the Rugby Championship there remains some unanswered questions. The selectors tried four centers in three Tests. Who is the best starting first-five and are all the established regulars necessarily doing enough to retain their places?
Out of ten how did the All Blacks fare?
Forwards
Joe Moody – 7: The All Black scrum was dominant for periods which has been unusual in recent times. Moody was a big part of this attacking platform. He has enhanced his reputation in this series.
Dane Coles – 7: A world-class player who didn’t disappoint. Accurate lineouts and trademark bursts of energy with ball in hand. Could have been subbed in the third Test to give Codie Taylor a decent run, because there is no obvious competition for Coles right now.
Owen Franks – 7: Dished out some punishment on defence and was steady in the scrums. A good series for the veteran.
Brodie Retallick – 7: A defensive workhorse and his subtle handling and rigorous charges are a big part of the All Blacks attack.
Sam Whitelock – 6: Returned from injury in Wellington and had an industrious series. Wasn’t as forceful as usual, but that will come.
Jerome Kaino – 7: His physical presence adds much string to the All Blacks defence. Not as dominant as he used to be with ball in hand, but effective enough.
Sam Cane – 4: The heir apparent to McCaw? Not on this series. Works hard, but conceded four penalties and a yellow card in Dunedin. The All Blacks lost nothing when he was off the field. Cane lacks McCaw’s shrewdness and Savea’s dynamism. Cane is a good openside, but is he really a world class openside on his showings in this series?
Kieran Read – 7: Dynamic start in Wellington. Was consistent without setting the world on fire in each Test.
Luke Romano – 6: Workman like 40 minutes in Auckland.
Wyatt Crockett – 6: Great skill to create a try in Auckland. Did his job, but no more.
Charlie Faumuina – 7: Strong and skillful with ball in hand and more than held his own in the scrums, a good series.
Patrick Tuipulotu – 7: A hulk of a man who bustled gamely in Auckland and added punch in Wellington.
Ardie Savea – 7: Provided genuine impact in both games. His try in Wellington was sensational. Coach Steve Hansen called him “special.” He must surely be pushing hard for a start.
Elliot Dixon – 6: A solid, but unspectacular Dunedin debut.
Liam Squire – 6: Strong carries against a tiring Welsh defence, an encouraging start.
Backs
Israel Dagg – 9: Recalled for the second Test and repaid the selectors faith with two brilliant performances.
Ben Smith – 8: Made a shaky start in Auckland dropping three high kicks, but shrugged those blemishes aside quickly and had a typically effective series. Produces at least one spectacular moment per match.
Malakai Fekitoa – 4: Exposed defensively in Auckland and failed to deliver on his attacking promise. A possible career setback.
Ryan Crotty – 6: Not a flashy player, but efficient enough. A steady presence in an uncertain midfield. A good guy to have in a phase of transition, but don’t expect him to be remembered as one of the greats.
Waisake Naholo – 5: Scored three tries and produced some breathtaking moments on attack, but that was mixed with some woeful handing and poor decision making. Strangely shifted to centre late in Dunedin.
Aaron Cruden – 6: After 19 months out of international rugby he grew in stature during the Auckland Test. Left the field injured in Wellington and faces a serious challenge from Beauden Barrett to retain his starting place.
Aaron Smith – 9: Auckland was very good, but his last two games were imperious. The best halfback in World rugby by a mile.
Beauden Barrett – 9: Had his best Test for the All Blacks in Dunedin and produced some mesmerizing moments on attack in all three games. Has perfected the art of the impact player, but would be a starter for any other team in World Rugby and on form should be for the All Blacks too. He even kicked his goals.
Seta Tamanivalu – 4: Showed fleeting glimpses of his attacking flair, but mostly underwhelmed. Fended off with disdain by Jonathan Davies late in Wellington.
Julian Savea – 3: Has gone from the world’s best winger to a fumbling plodder in less than a year. His decline in form has been almost inexplicable. He is surely living on borrowed time unless there is a dramatic improvement in form.
George Moala – 6: Easily the most exciting of the four centres the All Blacks tried.
Not Rated: Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Lima Sopoaga, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Codie Taylor, Nathan Harris, TJ Perenara.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
CUW - the issue with taking your time is in the AB's, you only get a handful of chances as there are a number of guys lining up for a start in all positions. Naholo needs to get his act together asap or risk demotion to the back of the queue.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I wouldn't call Read's form last year dreadful, but his handling has certainly improved this year.
Ralph
Roar Guru
That's not true Kuruki, his Mum specifically commented on the effort he made and swore she appreciated it.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Excellent Smithers. A short kicking game that's fast close to contact would be very valuable. Create a lot of doubt and force the opposition to hold behind the first line to sweep.
R2D2
Guest
Ngatai has a very educated boot and can clear with distance.
CUW
Guest
nothing wrong with menatality of naholo, its just that he is taking time to adjust to test level. in fact he took time to adjust at blues as well, that is why he got very little game with them. he got frustrated and went to play 7S . then he went to Highlanders. some guys learn fast while others take time. naholo is taking time to learn but he has all the talent and skills. i guess the management will look at him as a utility wing who can play on both sides. the settled side will have savea and smith on wings with dagg at the back, which was very good before dagg got injured and lost form. what is versy easy to see is that goof form in either ITM level or super rugger level does not immediately transfer to the test level. guys like Moala and Seta for example have had good ITM / Super form but are not that good in tests. though Moala was the highest try scorer in 2015 ITM cup , he has been not that good in super rugger for blues.
CUW
Guest
Ngatai - has variety and length. he played at 15 when young :)
Ralph
Roar Guru
Which is them brings a kicking game?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Yeah, nobody really appreciates the effort Cane makes because most of it is in areas that don't get recognition for being flashy. He is a dominant tackler and very aggressive in contact. He can also carry well when given the freedom, however i don't think that's his role in this team. I'm not in a rush to see Ardie take over just yet, i like the idea of him coming on later in the game where he will have more of an impact while he is fresh. Always been wary of Moala because of his decision making but based on the impact he had in that game he has really won me over and i hope he gets a start against Aussie. I am happier then anybody to see Read return to form this year. He was honestly dreadful last year up until the big games in the World cup. His ball handling has improved ten fold and i think that's simply a sign of his head troubles having left him completely now.
R2D2
Guest
Moala with Ngatai (when fit) would be my pick at the moment. Ngatai is very mature player ,who will be a great link with skills to break the line and direct traffic in midfield. Moala can play his natural game,learn to offload, defence is sound already, but with Ngatai's guidance,Moala has a future.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Moala failing to pass twice was predictable. That is the weakness in his game. He can be a bit greedy and his decision making of when to pass before or in contact is not up to the mark....yet. Dagg can be forgiven imo. Under the circumstances he was being a bit selfish as this was possibly his last chance to cement himself into the squad or be replaced and struggle to get another chance. He has cemented himself on the back of a strong series and i think we will see him revert back to the unselfish Dagg in future. Naholo is simply a player not mentally ready for this level. The good does not outweigh the bad and i would personally struggle to find room for him especially with SBW returning which would leave George Moala as possible wing cover.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Moala stood up and took his chance. He is dynamic and will get us over and through the advantage line more often then Crotty or Fekitoa however he still lacks the decision making to really cement himself at this stage. He bombed two tries purely from not passing when he should have. Once when he crossed the line but failed to score with two unmarked players outside him and again when he held the pass a step to long before offloading to Read. if he can get better in this area which i think Hansen and co can help him with, then he could be a real impact selection for the All Blacks on the back of a pretty average effort from Crotty and Fekitoa to make their mark.
CUW
Guest
that i s the point . Crotty will not starrt at 12 - he is just filling in till SWB comes back from the carnival. but just maybe they will put him at 13 only reason being ngatai could not play these matches to see how he goes. but who knows , they just may put him in if he is fit and firing.
CUW
Guest
Tuipolatu is not a starter - Romano is : simple as that . if either sam or brodie are injured , then it will be Romano starting.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
re ROMANO - he should now be replaced with Patrick Tuipulotu permanently...bigger, younger and much faster and more brutal
Ryan
Roar Rookie
From experience, it often is the case with new combinations lacking chemistry and not quite gelling in relation to running lines, timing and distance between passer and recipient. They'll be humming by RC, don't you worry.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I don't think Cane was quite that bad. He got through his work in the tight. He's a player who will come into his fore in tighter, more physical tests and not looser ones where we're trying to push the tempo. Read had a great series and deserved an 8 score. Not a peep of criticism about his form. Night and day compared to last season. Moala needs to learn to pass. If he can do that then the 13 jersey is up for grabs.
Faith
Guest
Especially with the new ABs ...
Faith
Guest
There's been one really really irritating aspect of the AB - Wales series that you hardly ever saw in the ABs of the last season - a player failing to pass to another open player. Twice Moala to Read in Dunedin. Dagg to Barrett in Dunedin even if the game was sealed. Naholo the biggest culprit of this tendency - refused to pass to B Smith in first test during the first half. Then in Dunedin Naholo just kept dying with the ball. That needs to be nipped in the bud if this ABs team is going to ever reach the levels of the last ... can you ever remember at least 5 botched tries ever between 2013-2015 because a player held on for too long. I can't remember ... the new players are bringing a selfish individualistic streak that needs checking ...
A.O.Tear Rower
Guest
I dont agree. Coles 8 Harris 6 Taylor 5 Moody 7 Crockett 7 Franks 7 Faumuina 7 Ofa 6 Rettalick 7 Whitelock 6 Romano 5 Tuiputotu 6 Kaino 6 Cane 5 Dixon 6 Read 8 Savea 7 Perenara 6 Kerr-Barlow 6 Smith 8 Cruden 7 Barrett 8 Sapoaga 6 Crotty 5 Fekitoa 5 Moala 7 Tamanivalu 6 Naholo 6 Savea 4 Smith 8 Dagg 8 Scale: 10 Epic, 5 OK, 1 Complete and utter failure. I dont think any of the ABs put in brilliant displays nor do I think some were as bad as you make out.