The tradition roars on as the All Blacks storm to a 7-point victory over the Springboks at Eden Park, successfully defending the fortress against the World Champions. It was a performance of true tactical brilliance, and in my opinion, the most grit we’ve seen from a Razor-led side during his tenure so far.
After taking some time to digest the win, here at betcha we’ve got our All Blacks player ratings ready to roll for you. So strap in because this is one you won’t want to miss.
Ethan de Groot
de Groot was rewarded with a start due to his consistency throughout the early stages of the international season. However, the difference this time was that the scrum was not as dominant as we have come to expect with him in the No. 1 jersey. While that was disappointing, this was arguably the most dynamic he has ever looked in an All Black jersey, both on attack and defence, which was a very welcome surprise.
Grade: 6.5/10
Codie Taylor
Taylor looked very wobbly getting back up after a collision and will no doubt be recovering from a potential concussion this coming week, so no grade given.
Grade: N/A/10
Fletcher Newell
Like his propping partner, this was the first time the scrum had cracked with Newell starting, and generally, the damage was beginning on his side. Unlike the last game in Argentina, he did not really get stuck into much work around the paddock, so this felt like somewhat of a step back for the young man.
Grade: 5.5/10
Scott Barrett
The skipper certainly had his best performance with the captain’s armband on this past weekend, and he did so under immense pressure from the public. I will include myself in that group as I was unsure if Barrett was the right guy to lead this new era of the All Blacks. But his bruising performance, where he dismantled the South African maul and was a machine in collisions, was a huge step in the right direction.
Grade: 8/10
Tupou Vaa’i
Back in his natural position, Vai’i was a massive game-wrecker when deployed as a lock. He once again showed why so many see him as the next great All Black lock and someone who, from that position, can do just about everything around the park and at set-piece time. He won multiple turnovers on defence, had plenty of strong runs in phase play, and also provided a clean foundation for attack as a lineout jumper.
Grade: 8/10
Simon Parker (betcha’s Best)
The best of any All Black in just his second test, and during the biggest match since the 2023 World Cup final. Simon Parker was absurdly industrious and showed exactly why, behind the scenes, Razor and co had penciled him in as the blindside flanker for their version of the All Blacks. He was supremely dominant on defence, stonewalling every Springbok attacker in true vintage New Zealand blindside fashion. Equally his maul defence was just as strong by diffusing promising attacks, and he did his fair share gaining metres on the ground when called upon.
All in all, utterly flawless from Parker, and hopefully a sign of things to come for his future in the black jersey.
Grade: 9/10
Ardie Savea
The 15th man to become a centurion, and Ardie Savea didn’t let the occasion get the best of him during this hit-out. He wasn’t the classic barnstorming Savea, breaking tackles and chasing his own chip kicks, but he was still outstanding nonetheless. He got his hands on the ball on ten different occasions and was effective on those carries. However, his major contribution came on defence with 12 tackles and two turnovers, one of which essentially iced the game for the home side and will be a moment I won’t forget any time soon.
Grade: 8.5/10
Wallace Sititi
Great to see him back out there for the majority of the game, and no doubt Sititi is still getting his legs under him after a stop-start season this year. By no means does that mean he was poor, because he did his core roles well. However, there were just no moments of brilliance that we have become so used to seeing from him at this level. But do not fret, because I’m sure that will come.
Grade: 7/10
Finley Christie
After seeing his first real action in the last Argentina test, which was no doubt up and down for Christie, he bounced back in a major way. He cleared the ruck efficiently, defended when needed, but most importantly was the better of the two halfbacks when it came to the kicking game. Now, I will admit his exit was still a tad hit or miss, but his contestable box kicks were the best I have seen from an All Black halfback and were crucial to the game plan and victory for the home side.
Grade: 8.5/10
Beauden Barrett
At this stage of his career, the eldest Barrett is a conductor of the side, and he did that to a high level this weekend without having to impose himself as a runner. He had one iffy moment where he made a poor kick straight to South Africa’s back three, who then launched a counterattack. Outside of that, though, he was pretty flawless and set up Emoni Narawa perfectly with the cross kick in the opening moments of the game.
Grade: 7.5/10
Reiko Ioane
Despite most of the country’s reservations about whether he would see another start after his below-par display versus Los Pumas, the 80-plus test veteran was entrusted once again on the left wing. He saw very little of the ball on attack, but his game-defining moment came when he was able to hold up a Springbok pick and go, relieving a lot of the pressure that was building in the second half. So, while it was still not a huge game from Ioane, he made a huge play at maybe the most critical moment in this one.
Grade: 6.5/10
Jordie Barrett
He was coming and going with a few injury knocks, but for the most part he was solid once again without standing out. It was great to see him being used in the kicking game, which was something I had been calling for. While also for the most part shutting down their midfield, in what was seen as one of the bigger matchup entering the weekend.
Grade: 7/10
Billy Proctor
I enjoyed this Proctor performance, who looked a lot more assured of himself during the Eden Park hit-out. Like his inside partner, he was part of the tandem that shut down the Springboks’ attacking threat, while also having a few of his own good moments, like the field-flipping kick in the opening minute.
Grade: 7/10
Emoni Narawa
Looked on track to have a worldie, starting off with a sublime finish from Beauden’s cross kick after two minutes and also looking like a threat in the air. However, unfortunately, he sustained what looks like a rib injury, so here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for the winger.
Grade: N/A
Will Jordan
Plenty of discussions around his work in the air coming into this one, and once again he lost out more than he would have liked. Due to Narawa’s injury, though, he shifted out to the wing where he scored the set play try that papered over the cracks of what was another disappointing 80 minutes for one of New Zealand’s best talents.
Grade: 5.5/10
The Bench
Samisoni Taukei’aho
What a performance from Taukei’aho, who looks exactly like the guy dominating the international scene in 2023. While his lineout throwing was good, the most impressive part of his extended run was the volume and efficiency of work he put in. In his 49 minutes, he made 10 tackles and 11 carries, leading the team in defenders beaten and showing how difficult it is to get him on the ground. His performance this weekend was one that, if Taylor misses the upcoming clash in Wellington, we now know his deputy is ready to roll if called upon.
Grade: 8.5/10
Tamaiti Williams
He was blown away from a scrum on his own feed that led to a Springboks try, but other than that he was once again an enforcer. He powered up the lineout maul and ensured his strength was felt across the park when given the opportunity in open play.
Grade: 5.5/10
Tyrel Lomax
He was welcomed back to international footy with that scrum that was felt around the world. But like Williams, he was part of the unit that gave the Springboks trouble down the stretch and could have very easily earned a few scrum penalties of their own.
Grade: 5.5/10
Fabian Holland
Only 13 minutes for Holland, who found himself on the bench for the first time in his short international career, so no grade from him in this one.
Grade: N/A
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Came on twice for around 15 to 20 minutes total and looks perfect for the bench flanker role with the energy he provides. He made 6 tackles in that span, which means he was on track for around 24 if he had played the full 80 minutes. Unfortunately he was also robbed of what would have been a special turnover because the officials were, once again, incapable of doing their jobs effectively.
Grade: 7/10
Kyle Preston
Heck of a story for Preston, who has rapidly risen through the ranks of the professional game and was playing at somewhat of a pinnacle during his debut. He made a couple of nice plays but lacked the time to make a true impact, so no grade.
Grade: N/A
Quinn Tupaea
Many were clamoring for Fainga’anuku to get the 23 jersey this weekend, but the All Blacks coaches went with Quinn Tupaea. And wow, did he repay them. He made a couple of huge tackles and, most of all, ran a superb line off Beauden Barrett before beating a couple of defenders and diving under the sticks to make the lead more comfortable.
Grade: 7/10
Damian McKenzie
I don’t want to say I told you so when it came to McKenzie at fullback for this one, but I most certainly did. He was the most secure player in the game under the high ball despite his small stature, and that was down to his timing and willingness to contest in the air. The security he provided at the back was invaluable, and his calming presence in some frantic moments was also a huge boost to a back three that was scrambling after losing Narawa early.
Grade: 8.5/10