Test one v France, Auckland, June 2, 2007

Player ratings - from only one viewing, so probably won't be that accurate, although they are just opinion at any rate, so even if I had views the test 15 times, it would still just be opinion wouldn't it...

15:  Leon MacDonald.  5/10
Still looks rusty as one of those shells that the French farmers keep plowing up from World War One.  Better than during the Super 14, where he looked as even rustier. Didn't really do much wrong, but to his own high standards, did little right, offered bugger all on attack, and when he did offer something, he would offer the wrong option...  About a million miles from the Panadol, who at peak form, can be classed as one of the better fullbacks in world rugby, let alone New Zealand.

14:  Joe Rokocoko.  7/10
Needs to find a hypnotist that will make him think that in every game he ever plays in, he is wearing a black jersey with a silver fern on his chest!  Just plays soo much better in black.  The Blues might pay this bill.  Anyway, no tries for the flying Fijian, but some nice runs with the ball in hand, hungry for work, and looked to be enjoying himself out there, which even at this level, is the main thing for rugby players, get out there and love it - you are a long time retired.  The set piece move that led to Mauger's first try was a gem, the timing of Carter's pass to the Rock sweet as a nut.

13:  Isaia Toeava.  7/10
He got better and better at centre over the Super 14, and he's looking better and better at the higher level too.  Still a couple of handling lapses this test, but when you are getting all your ball on the advantage line (or most of it), you can forgive those handling lapses.  I seem to remember a certain F Bunce who would have cases of the dropsies now and then.  We just remember the good bits though from Buncy, not the horrible ones don't we.  Needs to practise scoring tries from kick throughs though...

12:  Aaron Mauger.  8/10
The little general!  Tidy in everything he did, from taking try scoring chances to timing of passes.  Probably the best back in black on the field.

11:  Sitiveni Sivivatu.  8/10
Like the Rock, put a black jersey on this kid and he gets a work rate that the Chiefs would love to see just half of!  Took his try scoring chances with aplomb, and in general was busy about the field both with and without the ball.

10:  Dan Carter.  7/10
Polished, backed away from nothing, but still looked to be warming the engines, like a jet getting ready to take off, but still well away from departure time.  Looks half asleep half the time, but certainly played like a live wire.  Injured his ankle, but would have stayed on had this game meant something by all accounts.  Still keeping plenty in reserve.

9:  Piri Weepu.  7/10
Strong passing game, and when he ran, strong enough to break the advantage line and get the forward roll going again.  Looking a lot better for being (looking) at least a stone lighter than when he finished last season.  Still as strong as a prop, just no longer looks like one!

8:  Chris Masoe.  5/10 & 8/10
Looked absolute shite as a number eight, and in the second spell, looked class as an openside flanker - getting through much more work on the ground foraging the ball than he used too.  Perhaps he is, in his own right now the second best seven in New Zealand, not just the first best bench man to cover six, seven and eight.  After Saturday's rookie performance of all rookie performances at eight, we know that he is ranked, on that performance at least, no where near the top ten players at number eight! 

7: Richie McCaw.  7/10
Like Carter, still working up to top pace.  Class all the same though, but not playing in top gear yet.  Hurt his hip, but nothing serious, will be on deck next Saturday for his 50th test.

6:  Reuben Thorne.  8/10
A strong test from Mr Invisible.  Seemed to be into more things around the field, along with his usual high work rate tight game.  Actually got out and about with ball in hand, and made yards too.  His normal stone wall defensive self too.  Ceraitnly giving his all to make that trip to France for what would be his third World Cup.

5:  Chris Jack.  6/10
Still off his normal pace, but better than he was over the Super 14.  Played a reasonable game, but not what you expect from a veteran All Black tight forward.  Needs to lift his game, or could find himself third on the All Black locking tables behind Ali Williams and Keith Robinson.

4:  Ali Williams.  9/10
If Andy Dalton and the Blues board don't shove a grenade up Nucifora's arse for his treatment of Williams and Rokocoko after their performances in black this last weekend, than Dalton and the Blues board need the grenade.  Williams was immense on Saturday, the best forward on the field.  Running with the ball like a six foot seven winger, taking lineout ball like a lock should, getting in the face of the Froggy lineout, and working like a fiend in the tight.  Everything he would have been doing for the Blues had Nucifora played him.  If Williams keeps this sort of form up, he is in the top echelon of World locks, not just Kiwi ones!

3:  Carl Hayman.  8/10
Loverly stuff, business as usual for the anchor of the All Black tight five.  Huge at scrum time again, has just carried on from last seasons efforts.  Will be missed next season, but life goes on.  Lets enjoy his play while we have him!
 

2:  Kevin Mealamu.  8/10
Like Hayman, straight back into form like he never left the black shirt last season.  Normal exocet missile runs throught the game, and his throwing pretty much spot on - a far cry from the Super 14, where he was looking pretty average!  If not the best hooker in the world, damn close.

1:  Tony Woodcock.  8/10
The third member of the unholy trinity that we call the All Black front row, and like his two partners in crime, straight back into it, sleeves up, doing the dirty work.

16:  Andrew Hore.  8/10
Thought Hore was a good impact forward once he hit the field, added some punch to the pack replacing the tired Mealamu.  Tidy game as usual, he just looks too small to be an international hooker, even though, as we all know, he isn't!!

17:  Neemia Tialata.  n/a
Gee he's a big man isn't he!!  Fingers crossed he can get into the Hayman league post RWC and anchor that All Black scrum through to 2011.

18:  Troy Flavell.  n/a
Not on the field for long, but went OK.  Will need more game time to push his case for RWC inclusion, especially after the solid game that Thorne put in.

19:  Rodney So'oialo.  8/10
Showed that he is a quality exponent of the number eights craft.  Or was that just because Masoe had made such a hash of proceedings there in the firstl half?  Looked stronger in the contact area - because of the R&R, probably. 

20:  Brendon Leonard.  7/10
Would be stoked with his game time, and certainly took his chance with two hands.  Looked very good I thought, better pass than Weepu's, and did pretty much everything right - a debut you would have to be pleased with.

21:  Nick Evans.  7/10
Got a half on the field, and but for his one 'visionary' moment, was on the ball, right decision at the right time.  Some nice runs, offloads, and the kick through for the Toeava 'try' was a pearler too.  While he is no Dan Carter (who is, but for Dan Carter), if Carter was to not make the grade come RWC, Evans is the man I would want starting in 10.

22:  Ma'a Nonu.  n/a
Didn't add anything new to his game that we didn't already know, apart from maybe a new shade of mascara...  Not on the field long enough to rate.

There you are folks, player ratings test 1 of the season versus Les Bleus.  Man of the Match Ali Williams.