Rugby News Update: All Blacks Edge Past Gallant England in Dunedin Thriller

In the first game of the Scott Robertson era, New Zealand’s All Blacks narrowly defeated a determined England side 16-15 in a gripping encounter in Dunedin. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the All Blacks player ratings from this hard-fought victory.

All Blacks Player Ratings

Fullback

Stephen Perofeta put in an encouraging outing, showcasing his evasive skills and vision to set up a try for Ardie Savea. The 15 jersey was well-justified. Rating: 7/10

Wing

Sevu Reece was lively, scoring a try off a Damian McKenzie cross-kick and demonstrating his knack for finding space. His 50:22 kick in the first half was a highlight. Rating: 7/10

Center

Despite some nice touches, Rieko Ioane will be disappointed with his defensive display, missing three tackles. The midfield remains a work-in-progress. Rating: 5/10

Jordie Barrett’s big boot and link-up play at 12 provided valuable support for flyhalf Damian McKenzie, who marshaled the game well aside from some missed kicks. Rating: 7/10

Mark Telea was a handful for the English defense, beating 10 defenders with his elusive running. An exciting prospect to watch. Rating: 7/10

Flyhalf

Damian McKenzie proved he can control a Test match, excelling in the aerial battle and providing a try assist, but the missed penalty kicks were a concern. Rating: 8/10

Scrumhalf

Veteran TJ Perenara’s return was cut short by a knee injury before the break. He had started brightly before the setback. Rating: N/A

Backrow

Inspirational captain Ardie Savea grabbed a try and made a crucial breakdown turnover, underlining his status as one of the world’s premier backrowers. Rating: 7/10

Dalton Papali’i put in a tireless defensive shift, topping the tackle count with 15. A gutsy performance to build on. Rating: 7/10

Samipeni Finau acquitted himself well on just his second Test outing, with no major lapses in discipline. A solid shift. Rating: 6/10

Lock

Patrick Tuipulotu enjoyed an impactful return to the starting XV, making powerful carries in the first half. A timely reminder of his abilities. Rating: 7/10

Scott Barrett led by example with his physicality and breakdown work rate, tempering any disciplinary concerns. Rating: 7/10

Front Row

The front row of Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor and Ethan De Groot had mixed outings, with some scrum issues, but did enough to secure the win. Ratings: 5/10

Bench

Robertson utilized his bench effectively, with Asafo Aumua and Tupou Vaa’i making key contributions late on. Overall, a solid team effort to start the new era. Rating: 7/10

In a tightly contested affair, the All Blacks did just enough to edge past a resilient England side and begin the Scott Robertson reign with a hard-fought victory. While there are areas to improve, this was a promising start to the new chapter of New Zealand rugby.

🔗 Source