HOWTHE ABs RATED
Damian McKenzie 7: Not a lot of ball for a while, but when his chances came his speed was crucial in scoring off aWilliams grubber, then he ran a lovely line to set up Barrett. Waisake Naholo 5: Slow day down his flank. Gave up three penalties and lucky to avoid yellow card for mid-air contact with Stuart Hogg.
Ryan Crotty 7: The odd good touch on attack, but his defensive work was brilliant. He led the team tackle count with 16, and his covering was great. Sonny BillWilliams 8: Back from his Paris brain-snap in super style, setting up two of the ABs’ three tries – first with a grubber for McKenzie, then a lovely bust and offload for Barrett. Dangerous distribution and solid defence.
Rieko Ioane 8: Not much action first quarter, then several great busts through tacklers and good offloads. Created game’s opening try in 45th min with a cut-out ball to Taylor. Beauden Barrett 7: Some wayward passing didn’t help ABs’ attack, but came up trumps to finish off try in 67th min, then got back for final push on Stuart Hogg.
Aaron Smith 7: Usual crisp work from the base, decent kicking game. Kieran Read 7: The main lineout target at the front, moved to lock for the final 10. No running metres, but plenty of tackling, and won a good turnover penalty.
SamCane 6: Tackled well, won early ruck penalty, was set for a try but Russell intercepted from Taylor pass. Yellow carded on 61min, leading to Scotland’s opening try.
Vaea Fifita 6: Some good hard charges to dent the line, but several handling errors blotted the copybook. Early maul turnover win and made 15 tackles. SamWhitelock 6: Quiet first half, then huge presence in penalty turnover win on own line early in second spell. No running metres, but made 11 tackles without a miss.
Luke Romano 5: Made 10 tackles, but that was his lot. Lost ball high in contact, driven back big-time in a tackle, pinged on halftime for being off feet which scuppered ABs’ late chance, then subbed early in second half.
Nepo Laulala 7: Solid at the scrum, apart from conceding a free kick for early engagement. Hefty presence around the fringes on defence. One good charge with ball in hand and a nice short ball offered.
Codie Taylor 8: Huge 75-minute effort. Apart from one stray throw, lineout work was spot-on. Solid in scrum and around rucks. Roamed effectively, scoring game’s opening try in 45th minute.
Kane Hames 9: Great effort at scrum-time, earning three penalties. Some good low charges close to the goal-line too. Put in a huge shunt to win crucial penalty on goal-line to seemingly end Scotland’s chance of victory.
RESERVES:
Nathan Harris N/R
Wyatt Crockett 5: (52nd min for Hames) Guilty of repeated infringements. Yellow-carded in 71st min for taking out halfback at ruck. Ofa Tu’ungafasi N/R (59th min for
Liam Squire 7: (46th min for Romano) Produced stunning 50-metre charge up the middle, from the back of the scrum, though conceded penalty after not passing. (75th min for Cane)
(65th min for