Player ratings: A bridge too far
Their much vaunted back row failed to stamp their authority on the game and they struggled at times in the set piece. They were also outplayed amongst the backs.
Warren Fortune rates the Australian players!
15 Israel Folau
Just like his All Blacks counterpart he showed great intent with ball in hand and made more metres than any other player in his team. He was also solid under the high ball.
7/10
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper
Had an unusually quiet game – the ball just never came his way, however, he also failed to look for work. It was not a good showing by his standards.
3/10
13 Tevita Kuridrani
He was well-marked by a stubborn New Zealand defence in the first half. However, he was much more effective in the second half with ball in hand and also got a crucial try, which got his team back in the game.
6/10
12 Matt Giteau
He did not have much of the ball in the 26 minutes he was on the field. He also struggled on a few occasions to read the All Blacks' attack.
4/10
11 Drew Mitchell
He was outstanding on attack making a few clean breaks and beating three defenders. However, he did give away few turnovers.
6/10
10 Bernard Foley
He came to life in the second half and played a big role in his team's comeback. He kept the New Zealand defence guessing when he took the ball up and ditsribution improved as the game went on. However, he was poor on defence missing a couple of tackles.
5/10
9 Will Genia
A satisfactory performance by the scrumhalf. He gave his backline clean service from the breakdown and his pin-point kick helped setup Tevita Kuridrani's try.
6/10
8 David Pocock
He was as solid as a brick wall on defence and also made a nuisance of himself at the breakdowns. He also got a trademark try from a driving maul.
6/10
7 Michael Hooper
Not the greatest of performances by the flank. He made a number of tackles, but also missed plenty. He was also bullied in the physical exchanges on a few occasions.
5/10
6 Scott Fardy
Just like Michael Hooper he failed to impose himself on the game like he did in past matches and his work rate was also poor. His defending was also shocking at times.
4/10
5 Rob Simmons
Was put under pressure in the line-outs by Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock and Jerome Kaino. He made some tackles, but also missed a few as well – he also failed to make in impact in the physical exchanges.
5/10
4 Kane Douglas
Unfortunately he got injured after 16 minutes with an awkward fall. He made a good couple of tackles, but that was it.
3/10
3 Sekope Kepu
Proved to be a liability for his team in open play with his discipline. He was solid in the scrums and defence, but hardly carried the ball.
4/10
2 Stephen Moore (captain)
A poor performance by the captain. He just about found his line-out jumpers on a few occasions, but did not lead by example in open play with only a few ball carries.
4/10
1 Scott Sio
Was solid in the scrums and also won a penalty in one. However, like some of his teammates his work rate around the park was poor and he was a spectator for much of the time he was on the field.
5/10
Replacements:
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (On for S Moore, 55 min)
He struggled with his line-out throwing but did carry the ball more in 25 minutes than what Stephen Moore did for 55 minutes.
5/10
17 James Slipper (On for S Sio, 58 min)
Had an ok performance in the scrums, although he got pummelled in one. Did not do much in open play.
3/10
18 Greg Holmes (On for S Kepu, 58 min)
Had the same impact off the bench like his scrum partner James Slipper – it was not a good performance by the prop in his 22 minutes on the field.
3/10
19 Dean Mumm (On for K Douglas, 15 min)
He played out of skin when he came on the field. He made more tackles than any other player on the field and was not bullied at all by the big New Zealand forwards.
6/10
20 Ben McCalman (On for S Fardy, 60 min)
He carried the ball without any aggression and made no progress over the advantage line for his team.
2/10
21 Nick Phipps (On for S Genia, 70 min)
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Matt Toomua (On for D Mitchell, 65 min)
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Kurtley Beale (On for M Giteau, 26 min)
He probably should have started the game for his team. His eye for the gap rattled the All Blacks and his speed off the mark gave his team a good attacking dimension.
7/10
