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International Test Matches
[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand vs England (2nd Test)
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<blockquote data-quote="Bada-Bing!" data-source="post: 651570" data-attributes="member: 70552"><p>Steve James's ratings from the Daily Telegraph here in the UK:</p><p></p><p>New Zealand v England: Player ratings</p><p></p><p></p><p>B Smith 9</p><p>Magnificent in attack and defence. Dazzling feet offensively and a quite brilliant tackle to bring Manu Tuilagi down after long chase.</p><p></p><p>C Jane 6 </p><p>Mixed bag. Brilliant hands one minute, but a drop too. Was hard to shine, though, given some of the brilliance around him.</p><p></p><p>C Smith 8</p><p>Super slick. Could not quite find Liam Messam with line at mercy but made no mistake later with Ma'a Nonu.</p><p></p><p>M Nonu 8</p><p>So much better and so in turn New Zealand were so much better. Always looked like breaking or creating an opportunity.</p><p></p><p>J Savea 9 </p><p>Such a handful with his power and awareness. Once destroyed Marland Yarde and bumped off Manu Tuilagi.</p><p></p><p>A Cruden 5</p><p>Poor, leading to early exit. England targeted him early on, with Luther Burrell in particular running hard at him, and it affected him.</p><p></p><p>A Smith 7</p><p>Had early clearance charged down and even fluffed a box kick, but when the pace quickened he was the catalyst. Considerable running threat.</p><p></p><p>T Woodcock 7</p><p>New Zealand's scrummage was hugely improved when the game was live (England came strong at the end) and he was clearly a part of that.</p><p></p><p>D Coles 7</p><p>Had an outstanding first half in which he made an awful lot of tackles, and also carried prominently. New Zealand's line out was much better.</p><p></p><p>O Franks 7 </p><p>Another who will be very happy with the improved scrummage. Great hands in the build up to Savea's try.</p><p></p><p>B Retallick 7 </p><p>One brilliant turnover and did his graft well, tackling well and winning a lot of line-out ball.</p><p></p><p>S Whitelock 7 </p><p>Like Retallick conceded an early penalty, but stole one first-half line out and did some excellent work at the re-starts.</p><p></p><p>L Messam 7 </p><p>Went about his work quietly in the first half but exploded into prominence in the second half as the tempo was upped.</p><p></p><p>R McCaw 7</p><p>More like it even if he missed Marland Yarde for England's first try, but was not helped by Aaron Cruden alongside.</p><p></p><p>J Kaino 7 </p><p>As the game progressed his carrying became more and more significant. Nice off-load for Savea's try. Totally outplayed Ben Morgan.</p><p></p><p>Replacements </p><p>Beauden Barrett may well start next weekend at fly half, while Victor Vito was again very lively when appearing.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>England</p><p></p><p>M Brown 6 </p><p>Again not at his best, but still scored a try (just!) and made one excellent tackle on Ma'a Nonu.</p><p></p><p>M Tuilagi 6 </p><p>Wasted? It looked like it. Ran 60m at the end of the first half but was hauled down by Ben Smith. Lovely off-load for Chris Ashton's try.</p><p></p><p>L Burrell 6 </p><p>Carried powerfully early on, but his partnership with Billy Twelvetrees never clicked and they were eclipsed by the All Blacks' pairing.</p><p></p><p>B Twelvetrees 5 </p><p>Did some good things, but, crucially, his over-ambitious off-load led to New Zealand try just after half time. Superb first-half break.</p><p></p><p>M Yarde 6 </p><p>Took his try superbly, brushing off McCaw in the process but kicked poorly at times and made other small mistakes. Not polished enough.</p><p></p><p>O Farrell 5 </p><p>A poor game. His best moment was a thumping tackle on Aaron Smith but his yellow card for not rolling away at 18-13 was the killer blow.</p><p></p><p>D Care 5 </p><p>Looked understandably rusty. Kicked poorly especially in the first half and too often knocked on from driving mauls.</p><p></p><p>J Marler 5 </p><p>Not one of his best days as New Zealand's scrummage stepped up. Crucially penalised for penalty just before half time that made it 10-6.</p><p></p><p>R Webber 6 </p><p>Replaced relatively early but that was no reflection on a poor performance, even if England did lose a couple of line outs. Very nearly scored.</p><p></p><p>D Wilson 6 </p><p>Stepped by Aaron Smith in open play but no surprise really. Showed previously unseen prowess with the boot at one stage.</p><p></p><p>J Launchbury 6 </p><p>Charged down Aaron Smith early on but was not the influence he has been. Missed a couple of tackles.</p><p></p><p>G Parling 8 </p><p>Had a stunning first half where he was comfortably England's best player. Made 12 tackles in that first half in probably his finest period in the loose for England.</p><p></p><p>T Wood 6 </p><p>worked hard as he does, but James Haskell might say he was more prominent last weekend. One dextrous take low down and pass.</p><p></p><p>C Robshaw 6 </p><p>A very different game from last weekend. One stunning interception from a line out and unceasing work as ever, but could not influence matters significantly.</p><p></p><p>B Morgan 6 </p><p>Just not the influence he was last weekend, but certainly did not have the same scrummage platform. Billy Vunipola made a difference here.</p><p></p><p>Replacements </p><p>England would like to have introduced them from a position of strength but the game went away from them quickly after the break, and it was too late. Matt Mullan impressed. Chris Ashton nicked a try.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bada-Bing!, post: 651570, member: 70552"] Steve James's ratings from the Daily Telegraph here in the UK: New Zealand v England: Player ratings B Smith 9 Magnificent in attack and defence. Dazzling feet offensively and a quite brilliant tackle to bring Manu Tuilagi down after long chase. C Jane 6 Mixed bag. Brilliant hands one minute, but a drop too. Was hard to shine, though, given some of the brilliance around him. C Smith 8 Super slick. Could not quite find Liam Messam with line at mercy but made no mistake later with Ma'a Nonu. M Nonu 8 So much better and so in turn New Zealand were so much better. Always looked like breaking or creating an opportunity. J Savea 9 Such a handful with his power and awareness. Once destroyed Marland Yarde and bumped off Manu Tuilagi. A Cruden 5 Poor, leading to early exit. England targeted him early on, with Luther Burrell in particular running hard at him, and it affected him. A Smith 7 Had early clearance charged down and even fluffed a box kick, but when the pace quickened he was the catalyst. Considerable running threat. T Woodcock 7 New Zealand's scrummage was hugely improved when the game was live (England came strong at the end) and he was clearly a part of that. D Coles 7 Had an outstanding first half in which he made an awful lot of tackles, and also carried prominently. New Zealand's line out was much better. O Franks 7 Another who will be very happy with the improved scrummage. Great hands in the build up to Savea's try. B Retallick 7 One brilliant turnover and did his graft well, tackling well and winning a lot of line-out ball. S Whitelock 7 Like Retallick conceded an early penalty, but stole one first-half line out and did some excellent work at the re-starts. L Messam 7 Went about his work quietly in the first half but exploded into prominence in the second half as the tempo was upped. R McCaw 7 More like it even if he missed Marland Yarde for England's first try, but was not helped by Aaron Cruden alongside. J Kaino 7 As the game progressed his carrying became more and more significant. Nice off-load for Savea's try. Totally outplayed Ben Morgan. Replacements Beauden Barrett may well start next weekend at fly half, while Victor Vito was again very lively when appearing. England M Brown 6 Again not at his best, but still scored a try (just!) and made one excellent tackle on Ma'a Nonu. M Tuilagi 6 Wasted? It looked like it. Ran 60m at the end of the first half but was hauled down by Ben Smith. Lovely off-load for Chris Ashton's try. L Burrell 6 Carried powerfully early on, but his partnership with Billy Twelvetrees never clicked and they were eclipsed by the All Blacks' pairing. B Twelvetrees 5 Did some good things, but, crucially, his over-ambitious off-load led to New Zealand try just after half time. Superb first-half break. M Yarde 6 Took his try superbly, brushing off McCaw in the process but kicked poorly at times and made other small mistakes. Not polished enough. O Farrell 5 A poor game. His best moment was a thumping tackle on Aaron Smith but his yellow card for not rolling away at 18-13 was the killer blow. D Care 5 Looked understandably rusty. Kicked poorly especially in the first half and too often knocked on from driving mauls. J Marler 5 Not one of his best days as New Zealand's scrummage stepped up. Crucially penalised for penalty just before half time that made it 10-6. R Webber 6 Replaced relatively early but that was no reflection on a poor performance, even if England did lose a couple of line outs. Very nearly scored. D Wilson 6 Stepped by Aaron Smith in open play but no surprise really. Showed previously unseen prowess with the boot at one stage. J Launchbury 6 Charged down Aaron Smith early on but was not the influence he has been. Missed a couple of tackles. G Parling 8 Had a stunning first half where he was comfortably England's best player. Made 12 tackles in that first half in probably his finest period in the loose for England. T Wood 6 worked hard as he does, but James Haskell might say he was more prominent last weekend. One dextrous take low down and pass. C Robshaw 6 A very different game from last weekend. One stunning interception from a line out and unceasing work as ever, but could not influence matters significantly. B Morgan 6 Just not the influence he was last weekend, but certainly did not have the same scrummage platform. Billy Vunipola made a difference here. Replacements England would like to have introduced them from a position of strength but the game went away from them quickly after the break, and it was too late. Matt Mullan impressed. Chris Ashton nicked a try. [/QUOTE]
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[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand vs England (2nd Test)
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