On possible Barrett citing

Jordie Barrett, 7: Had some nice touches and runs early, rewarded with first try when burrowing over. Into No 12 in final quarter. One kick-out-on-full mistake. Slotted 6/6 off the tee.

Sevu Reece, 8: Sizzling 80m runaway effort for second ABs try. Always a threat with hot feet, but stout defence was a big key.

Rieko Ioane, 7: Two trysaving tackles in one minute round the hour-mark. Not much ball in space but tidy with what he got.

Quinn Tupaea, 7.5: Good strong carrying to get ABs over advantage line, and sound defending. Fine try following through grubber.

Leicester Fainga’anuku, 7.5: Fine debut. Nervy first touch but went on to show his wares. Carried strong in contact, got stuck into rucks, plucked an intercept, trysaving tackle late on. Will go again, surely.

Beauden Barrett, 7: A better ride thanks to ABs pack stepping up. Trysaving intercept early on, beautiful grubber for Tupaea try. Back to fullback in final 20.

Aaron Smith, 8.5: First game in six weeks after injury – an outstanding 60 minutes, highlighted by brilliant snipe from ruck and chip and chase and bat back for final firsthalf try. Off with 20 left.

Ardie Savea, 9: Great nous to dive on loose ball to finish off Smith’s super work, then scored his own stunner. Won fair share of lineout ball at the front, too. Took over captaincy late on.

Sam Cane, 6: Had to check all his ribs were there when smashed early by Ringrose, but put on a huge hit himself later in solid defensive effort. Off with 13 to play.

Scott Barrett, 9: Exactly what Foster wanted in his No 6. Every time he touched the ball he went head-down and barged over the gainline to give the ABs front-foot ball. Made game-high 20 tackles.

Sam Whitelock, 7.5: Surpassed Keven Mealamu to be second-most capped AB and continued fine recent form, including nice link play for first try and memorable

All Blacks’ line through their kicking game.

Highlighted by a couple of trysavers by centre Rieko Ioane, the All Blacks tackled exceptionally well (191/206 for 93%), but the heavy load led to a barrage of late penalties, as Dickson pinged them 15 times on the night.

Decisions, decisions

Just how Foster and his fellow turnover win. And 17 tackles to boot.

Brodie Retallick, 8: Muscled up with some crucial tackles and cleanouts. Copped a big bang under the eye but then got up and snaffled an Irish lineout for a maul turnover.

Ofa Tuungafasi, 7: On his haunches after an early knock, but soon after won key scrum penalty with ABs under the pump, and kept that pressure on. Off after 55 minutes.

Codie Taylor, 5: Will be feeling the pressure from Samisoni Taukei’aho for starting role. First lineout went astray, had messy maul transfer which turned ball over, gave away lazy early second half penalty. Off with 20 to go.

George Bower, 7: Got around the park well and got down to business at scrum time. Replaced on the hour.

RESERVES

Samisoni Taukei’aho, 7: Brought on in 55th minute and immediately made tough metres on the carry and threw himself into a heap (13) of tackles.

Karl Tu’inukuafe, 6: On in 60th minute and first scrum was a beauty near own line. Sin binned in 79th minute with ABs on a warning.

Angus Ta’avao, 6.5: Injected in 55th minute and kept the scrum dominance up, along with nice hands and carries.

Pita Gus Sowakula, 7: Got 17 minutes on debut, at No 8. Dropped first pass but soon surged off the back for the tastiest of meat pies, then got up and stole a lineout, too.

Dalton Papalii, 6: On in 67th minute. Some decent defensive work.

Finlay Christie, 7: On for final quarter and lit it up straight away with wide attack from deep scrum, and was a real bundle of energy.

Richie Mo’unga, 6: On for the last 20. Played No 10 in reshuffled backline but didn’t see a lot of ball.

Braydon Ennor, 4: Played final 13 minutes, swatted off by surging Henshaw then bumped through by Aki for late try.

selectors approach Saturday night’s second test in Dunedin will be telling.

If he’s true to his word – he promised less rotation and vowed to settle on combinations this year – there won’t be a heck of a lot of changes.

That said, the potential for midfielders David Havili and Jack Goodhue to recover from Covid-19 and return to the team will need to

AARON GOILE

be considered.

Regardless of Barrett’s availability, the same goes for his back row a week after specialist loose forwards Dalton Papalii (recovering from appendicitis) and Akira Ioane (foot) weren’t quite considered 100% fit.

Bank on plenty of changes for the third test, should the All Blacks clinch the series under the lid.