Chris Rattue rates the best and the worst from the All Blacks' tense 20-18 victory over the Springboks this morning.
Ben Smith 8
Started with a mis-kick but roared on from there with great kick chasing again his forte plus strong defence.
Nehe Milner-Skudder 6
One likely midfield charge. Some okay kicking. Injured in tangle with Habana and departed prematurely.
Conrad Smith 5
A bit of graft, the odd key tackle, but largely anonymous. Will want a much better final.
Ma'a Nonu 7
An angled run for Barrett's try his best moment and vital. Reasonably well contained otherwise.
Julian Savea 5
Tried to go ahead in the midfield but didn't get far. Hardly given an opportunity and fumbled his main chance.
Dan Carter 9
Ultimately, he was the difference in tough match and conditions. Even popped up with vital cover work and also a steal off big Burger for Barrett try. Landed the goals. Composure outstanding.
Aaron Smith 7
Cleared nicely, didn't always kick as well. Made a good fist of defence.
Kieran Read 6
Major penalty issues and a scrum fumble. Solid otherwise, and a lineout force which was a significant area.
Richie McCaw 7
A game for his warrior spirit yet not overly prominent. Great pass for Kaino try and, with Read, made the vital lift for Whitelock's essential lineout steal.
Jerome Kaino 8
Thundering start set the tone and helped prevent the 'Boks getting the start they needed. Silly act for yellow card but it wasn't too costly.
Sam Whitelock 8
Top marks for soaring high to grab pivotal lineout steal as the 'Boks attacked for go-ahead goal. On such moments, World Cups turn.
Brodie Retallick 8
Not a day for the startling stuff, but he hammered away with the ball, was a good link and grabbed a lineout steal.
Owen Franks 6
Scrums a bit out of fashion, and the All Blacks weren't always convincing. Okay elsewhere.
Dane Coles 7
Did virtually nothing with the ball, a champion elsewhere. Won the lineout throwing battle, and tackled low.
Joe Moody 6
Certainly looks keen to be a test ball runner although he ran into a few walls this time.
Reserves
Keven Mealamu (Coles, 66m) 5
Efficient.
Ben Franks (Moody, 68m) 5
Time for one great scrum.
Charlie Faumuina (O. Franks, 52m) 5
Rather quiet.
Victor Vito DNP
Sam Cane (Kaino, 66m) 4
Two fumbles and one could have been very costly.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow DNP
Beauden Barrett (Nonu, 52m) 7
Created a chance with sharp kick, scored, and stepped up to direct.
Sonny Bill Williams (Nonu, 52m) 7
His flying, direct charges were a beacon in a dour if heart stopping contest.
Willie le Roux 6
An enigma. Great takes of high ball, yet apart from opening move couldn't unleash his zeal and lacked authority.
JP Pietersen 4
Robbed of his moment of intercept glory by the whistle. Otherwise missing in action. In no man's land on Barrett try.
Jesse Kriel 4
Started with a gap-running roar. Then disappeared completely.
Damian de Allende 7
Terrific all round game although without bringing his outsides into play.
Bryan Habana 5
Some good stuff but the 'Boks needed that Habana magic. Obvious ruck yellow card didn't help. Bad read on Kaino try.
Handre Pollard 7
Beautiful goalkicking essential to the South African plans. A bit shaky elsewhere.
Fourie du Preez 6
As always, a dominant figure. But not always in a good way - he struggled under pressure and even his kicking was a bit wonky.
Duane Vermeulen 7
Battled hard in the trenches. No match saving brilliance this time.
Schalk Burger 7
Typical Burger gusto without making enough headway with the ball, and his passes were a bit loopy.
Francois Louw 7
Grabbed a few excellent turnovers and hurled himself into defence.
Lood de Jager 7
As with all the 'Bok forwards, better without the ball than with it. Part of faltering lineout.
Eben Etzebeth 6
One of the men South Africa needed to carry the ball forward and he couldn't do it.
Frans Malherbe 6
As above...good defence, no offence.
Bismarck du Plessis 5
Had a lineout meltdown as four in a row went west in the first half. Tough in the tight.
Tendai Mtawarira 6
The trouble with the beast is he isn't one anymore. The great charges with the ball are in the past.
Reserves
Adriaan Strauss (B. du Plessis, 52m) 4
Once again, a ball runner who didn't run. No impact. And threw a touch short in vital late lineout.
Trevor Nyakane (Mtawarira, 52m) 4
An imposing sight, but a bit short on energy.
Jannie du Plessis (Malherbe, 59m) 4
Didn't change the course of the game.
Victor Matfield (de Jager, 59m) 4
Flung himself about. Ultimately a disaster, giving up crucial reverse penalty, losing the key lineout and making the final fumble.
Willem Alberts (Burger, 63m) 5
Got an early blood bin burst for Louw. Showed a bit more spark than some others.
Ruan Pienaar DNP
Perhaps a substitution worth trying.
Pat Lambie (Pollard, 64m) 5
Landing a tricky penalty offset by critical fumble with seven minutes to go.
Jan Serfontein (de Allende, 79m)
The French government and FFR were blamed for failures of hosting the 2023 event.