Aaron Smith's high tackle led to a vital sin-binning and a poor player rating. Photo / Getty
Chris Rattue casts his eye over the player performances in the Wallabies' 27-19 win over the All Blacks last night.
Listen back to Nigel Yalden, Rikki Swannell and Tawera Kerr-Barlow with the highlights of their call of the match.
Ben Smith 7
Even he struggled for best form but
made a try and the big tackles when required until Ashley-Cooper's corner fling.
Nehe Milner-Skudder 7
Sparkling start, then flat patch...two tries on debut though and the second was a one-against-three deal which included dealing with the large frames of Folau and Kuridrani. Plenty in store.
Conrad Smith 6
Lots of tackling and advocacy. Not much attacking inspiration though.
Sonny Bill Williams 5
Would have better memories of Sydney from his little holiday last week. Reeks of a bloke who hasn't played enough, and some stupid kicks.
Julian Savea 7
Lots of hard graft and grunt without being the superstar he is supposed to be and couldn't nail his one try chance.
Dan Carter 4
Pedestrian, too many mistakes, didn't land vital wide conversions, no command. Got lucky with key pass to Ben Smith.
Aaron Smith 4
His worst test? Silly high-shot sin binning and messy clean-up effort led to Aussie tries.
Kieran Read 6
Huge effort yet a big tackle on Mitchell the only standout and missed Kepu and White on their try runs.
Richie McCaw 8
Hurled himself magnificently into a messy match until the end, as per usual. Seemed agitated and also well beaten in the breakdown department.
Jerome Kaino 6
Worked hard in the trenches yet no big runs to turn the game.
Luke Romano 5
Low involvement and a bit of a disappointment - lost the ball on his best run and missed Kepu.
Brodie Retallick 7
Spilled opening kickoff before getting into his usual mode and used as a bit of a distributor, with limited success.
Owen Franks 5
Standard fare, almost. Will have nightmares about the first scrum, and couldn't gain any ascendancy there.
Dane Coles 6
One trademark run, lineouts on the mark, not a lot else
Tony Woodcock 7
The veteran out lasted the other starting props - a tribute to his work rate.
RESERVES
Codie Taylor (Coles, 68m) 4
Nothing of note.
Ben Franks (Woodcock, 74m) -
Hard to judge on those minutes.
Nepo Laulala 6 (O. Franks, 45m)
Little charge led to a try and defended stoutly, but White beat him and Read for match winner.
Sam Whitelock (Romano, 54m) 5
Not a natural bench forward and not in great form either.
Sam Cane (Kaino, 74m) -
"Cameo" Cane gets underused again.
TJ Perenara (A. Smith,77m) 2
Gets a horrible mark for a horrible knock on.
Beauden Barrett (B. Smith, 62m) 5
Lovely sharp work in one try move but couldn't find clear air.
Malakai Fekitoa (Williams, 54m) 5
Defended quite well but his role obscure and didn't ignite attack.
Nic White got top marks from Chris Rattue. Photo / Getty
Israel Folau 7
A rough start with two errors but then showed his class in all areas without being devastating.
Adam Ashley-Cooper 8
Brilliant defensive reads and brutal try finish to play big part in the victory.
Tevita Kuridrani 7
Marked up on SBW early, and a huge amount of effective graft.
Matt Giteau 7
Some great covering work - surely the best No. 10 option allowing Toomua to start.
Drew Mitchell 6
Just okay, and he is capable of being more than that.
Bernard Foley 3
Where was he? Ordinary, ordinary, ordinary. And his kicking lacks distance.
Nick Phipps 3
You'll see safer passing in a demolition derby - failed but not through a lack of trying.
David Pocock 8
Two early steals helped keep his side in the game and he was one of the dominant figures in a scrappy test.
Michael Hooper 9
Here, there and absolutely everywhere. The mighty midget of international rugby packs.
Scott Fardy 7
A tradesman by test standards but a very good one on this showing.
James Horwill 6
Moderate to good without truly confirming his return to the fold.
Dean Mumm 7
The player who needed to turn up in this pack and that he did especially with ball running.
Sekope Kepu 8
A step and run past three All Blacks forwards for a try that set this great Wallaby victory in motion. Scrums were pretty good also.
Stephen Moore 6
Combative captain vital to the cause. Struck mid-match lineout problems though.
Scott Sio 7
A front row star in the making one suspects.
RESERVES
Tatafu Polata-Nau (Moore, 68m) 4
Australia should be very frustrated at the lack of explosive impact from the big fella.
James Slipper (Sio, 59m) 5
Did a job.
Greg Holmes (Kepu, 54m) 5
As with Slipper but with bonus - a great steal on fulltime.
Will Skelton (Horwill, 59m) 7
Had quite an effect. Super sub who is about the size of a sub. Could be devastating with more of a run up.
Ben McCalman (Fardy, 76m) 4
Also got earlier run for injured Pocock...nothing memorable.
Nic White (Phipps, 64m) 9
Match winning hand. Kicked long goal then solo dab for clinching try. You couldn't ask for much more.
Matt Toomua (Foley, 51m) 8
A class act with much-needed size - madness not to start him at No. 12. Impressive, and clever kick for try.
Kurtley Beale (Giteau, 67m) 4
A couple of runs but lost the ball on one.