HOW THEY RATED
Ben Smith 8: Not much doing until produced brilliant break beating Lukhan Tui to create first try of game late in first half. Shifted to right wing and was an enormous attacking presence.
Waisake Naholo 8: Nervy moment early with tip tackle on Israel Folau, but put that to bed quickly. Couldn’t get slick delivery his way for a while but fine link play to create first try, strong one-on-one steal on Marika Koroibete led to second try, then shifted to left wing and managed to bag a double late in the piece.
Jack Goodhue 9: Superb outing in just his second test, and with Crotty going off early. Led the game’s metres (142) and team’s tackles (11 [no misses]). Great tap on to Naholo for first try, finished beautiful long-range try from 40m, then had a stunning run straight off the kickoff, and fine tackle on Latu to stop Wallaby chance.
Ryan Crotty N/R: Ugly friendly fire head clash with Goodhue saw him leave the game in the 12th minute.
Rieko Ioane 6: Exited early in second half with hamstring issue. Mostly quiet with play generally going to the other flank, but did get on the outside to help put Goodhue away. Beauden Barrett 7: Patchy early on with missed penalty touchfinder, forward pass, dropped ball and general clunkiness, but then got better. Pace helped in good scramble defence and great individual skill to kick ahead three times to score from 30m.
Aaron Smith 7: Pressured at times round the fringe, but got into groove when phases built, on hand to finish first try. Kieran Read 8: Great effort in first test of the year. Strong carries, defended well, up in the lineout and lovely work to keep ball alive for team’s first try.
Sam Cane 7: Huge early tackle on Tui to cause a knockon set tone in physicality stakes. Got around the park. Liam Squire 7: A few carries but no real rampages. Pinged at ruck for Wallabies’ second penalty goal, but defended strongly in his near-hour’s work. Sam Whitelock 7: Celebrated 100th test in style. Trademark workmanlike performance, lineout steal included. Brodie Retallick 10: Sporting the mullet, and add in the tune of AC/DC’s Back in Black, with the big man playing his first test in almost a year. Simply outstanding display. Freakishly great skills for the size of the man. What can he do next? Made a whopping 57 metres with the ball – most of which came from a superb try where he dummied and went 25 metres, having turned the ball over from deep in own half. Owen Franks 7: Won an early scrum penalty against Tom Robertson to set the tone in that facet, made seven tackles without a miss.
Codie Taylor 7: Lineout throwing pretty good, part of big scrum effort, then lovely option to go with the in-pass to McKenzie deep in own half to spark try.
Joe Moody 7: Worked over Sekope Kepu in a quality scrummaging effort. Had ball stolen off him after Goodhue break when big attacking chance loomed. Reserves: Nathan Harris N/R: (68th min for Taylor) Tim Perry N/R: (54th min for Moody) Karl Tu’inukuafe N/R: (58th min for Franks) Scott Barrett N/R: (58th min for Squire) Ardie Savea N/R: (70th min for Cane) TJ Perenara N/R: (68th min for Smith) Damian McKenzie 7: (46th min for Ioane) On at fullback, carved up out wide and created plenty as the game opened up.
Anton Lienert-Brown 7: (12th min for Crotty) On for a big stint and slotted in nicely with lovely link play and tough defence.