Again, a test match against amateurs, where it is bloody hard to do much right, but very easy to do plenty wrong.  Personal accuracy and discipline is the key here, not trying to do too much, sticking to game plans and just trying too play as you would in a 'big' game.  Not trying to do too much, not trying to beat 19 tackles on you own whilst on your way to the try of the tournament.  Just doing the basics, draw your man and pass, give your outside a half yard start on his man, and go from there.

Anyway, lets run the Bart-o-metre over the players, and see who managed to be disciplined, and who tried too hard...

15:  Nick Evans  -  8/10
He's going pretty well at fullback, and pretty well at first five too.  If Carter is still broken this weekend, I would have no worries with him stepping into the void.  Is playing well, plenty of pace on attack, taking the gaps and opportunities as they appear, and, not trying too much against these minnows.  Would also be happy with him at 15 in the big games, he must have earned his bench spot at the least for this weekend.

14:  Joe Rokocoko  -  7/10
Hungry for work, three tries, and looking like he's getting back into form, which is good, as his cousie on the other wing, Sitevini, is heading down the form spiral, continuing to be unable to hold onto anything resembling a rugby ball , carrying on from the Scotland game.  But I am here to sing the praises of the Rock, not the bury Sivivatu.  Anyways, he got stuck into his work, in general made the right options, and was just busy throughout, not stopping to pick daisies as one great All Black winger many years ago was photographed doing during a club game in Italy!!  Anyway, my choice to partner Howlett against the Frogs in the weekend.

13:  Isaia Toeava  -  6/10
Quite game, but did the basics, didn't tear new arseholes through the Romanian defence, but looked like did the right things at the right time - followed game plan and stuck to the basics, which is what rugby is all about.  Worry about the little things, and the big things will look after themselves.  Would I play him in a knock-out game though, not if the other options are fit, whcih I think are better, but if they were broken, I would still be happy with the young fella stepping into the thirteen shirt.

12:  Aaron Mauger  -  8/10
His best game at RWC thus far.  Was stepping well, taking the gap, showing the acceleration as he used to, and most importantly, linking well once he had made the break.  Showing a late burst of form to try and wrestle back the second five spot, which I think he had, until this game, lost to Lucky Luke. 

11:  Sitiveni Sivivatu  -  5/10
I don't know how you can do it, but perhaps just ask Siti.  Look disinterested at the Rugby World Cup.  Sure, the last two games, against Scotland and Romania he has not really had to move out of idle, but hell, he should be playing at 100%, and scoring 5 tries (as he did for Waikato against Auckland last season, or the one before) per half in these matches.  He's not though, and looking like he just can't be arsed being on the field, and I think this might cost him in a few short days against the Frogs.

10:  Luke McAlister  -  7/10
Brain explosion after no seconds, break after the next ruck resulting in a try after 39 seconds in the match about sums up Lucky Luke's rugby career - from the ridiculous to the sublime.  However, we need to see less of the former and more of the latter from this bloke.  I think the main thing about this match has showd that Luke is not a first five at international level, and is much better at second five, where these is less responsibility to run the game, he can just sit back and take his chances, which he has been pretty much showing.  He did showcase his strength in this game though, on both attack and defence, and to be fair, but for that early brain fart, did not do too badly at ten.  However, should Carter not make it, Evans should get the nod...

9:  Andy Ellis  -  8/10
At last, we now see why this boy is an All Black.  Had the best game I have seen from him in black.  Accurate passing, fantastic support play, with that halfback magic of being in the right place at the right time.  Very much like Leonard when he is in form, just sniffing out the right place to be, reading play obviously very well and putting himself into the right position to take a pass.  Might have put a little pressure on Leonard's bench spot, but best of all, his form has made me less worried should Kelleher get injured about Leonard and he taking over for the big games.

8:  Sione Lauaki  -  7/10
Mixed good with bad, and a two week suspension, so we can't stop wondering if the, at times, human wrecking ball will be selected for the knock out stages.  I don't think he had done enough at any rate.  This game though, he did play pretty well I thought, one nice break down the short side leading to a Rokocoko try showcased both his strength and pace.  Needs to get the ball while moving more often though, as opposed to the standing start that he seems to favour (a timing issue I am sure).  Get that lump of meat moving at pace and then it is major trouble for any defence.  Tackled well too - as did all loose forwards in this game, with a weird sort of WWF throw coming into use quiet often, placing the tacked player on the All Black side, ball presented for the next defender to pilfer.  Was pretty to watch.

7:  Chrisy Masoe  -  8/10
Best game I have seen from 'Chrisy' all season.  I think all this game time, which he does not usually get in black is doing him no end of good.  Like Ellis, I am not less worried should McCaw get injured in a big game.  Still needs to work on his hands, as at times he has the handling skills of Captain Hook.  Other than that though, his defence was massive, turning over the ball in the tackle well, and supporting the ball carrier well too.  Basically played a top game for an international openside flanker.  Perhaps this boy just needs more game time eh!!  Wonder how he likes being called Chrisy though, as that plonker Hamish McKay always seems to do, I know I would hate it...

6:  Jerry Collins  -  8/10
You can see the big guy almost champing at the bit to get some decent targets to his on defence.  Just treading water and waiting for someone to run the ball at him with some meaning!  I am sure he'll get that this week though against the French.  While his defensive game has not been tested too much, his attacking game has been looking very good.  Again he got a few chances to stretch his legs in the open with ball in hand, and showed plenty of pace, and mainly good vision in linking up with support players.  Best six in the world today by a long haul.  Well done the Cartel telling him to head back to the NPC in 2004 and work on his ball distribution game, the re-invented Collins where it is at. 

5:  Keith Robinson  -  7/10
Solid return game for the big Te Aroha bogan!  Safe lineout option, safe under the kickoff ball (some of those kick-offs had bloody snow on them, they were coming down like sputniks that had run out of fuel).  Got about the field well too, and in combination with Thorne, proved a better second row partnership than I thought they would be to be fair.  Will be better off for the game time, and definitely an option for the coming weeks, I expect sharing game time with Chris Jack, probably off the bench.

4:  Reuben Thorne  -  7/10
The new Blackadder.  Meaning the bloke that is too short to be a genuine international lock, but in every other aspect of the game is perfect there!  Which is not surprising really, as in Thorne's first Super season, he WAS a lock, to Blackadders flanker, but that is ancient history!  Thorne though is a born lock, doing all that shitty ruck and maul work that needs to be done, and not complaining.  The standing on hands that are in the wrong place, the driving past the ball to seal it off from opposing players, in general the work that is never seen, hence the handle...  His ball carrying, which for a loose forward in today's game is not really up to scratch, is more than adequate for a tight forward.  Would not be a disaster if he was forced to cover lock on the bench over the coming weeks if Robinson's glass calf muscles crack again...

3:  Greg Somerville  -  8/10
The point in this match when I thought, yep, Somerville is ready for the big games, was when Laukai made that break which led to Rokocoko's try.  Why dd I thin that?  Because among the three (I think it was) players busting their arses to be in support of the ball carrier, one of them was the Cantab veteran, steaming up the 15 metre line, emptying his coal bunkers with every stride, but not caring, just wanting to be there.  His work rate in the match though, his accuracy throughout in doing his core duties was superb.  Something perhaps his propping partner in this match needs to look at...  His play in this match from the Portugal match in all aspects improved.  Bring on the quarters I say!!

2:  Kevin Mealamu  -  7/10
Like Collins looks like a sleek destroyer just cruising the waves waiting for some real targets to come into sight, rather than the sampans and junks that they have been brushing aside in the past weeks.

1:  Neemia Tialata  -  6/10
Think he may have done the opposite of Somerville in this match.  The amount of wrong options the man mountain made was not pretty, and the Cartel will not be happy.  That, and the fact that he seems to me to be a natural loosehead playing tighthead might see Somerville get the nod in the big games.  Like Somerville scrummed well, but at rucks and mauls he was about as accurate as a Anton Oliver lineout throw circa 2004.  The worst of all when he picked up perfect ball from the back of the ruck (perfect for a halfback to sling out to the waiting back line of 4000 players), and lumbered down the blindside with no support.  Lets be fair (ha, got around that 'to be fair' thing didn't I) though, he did do some things well, and even scored a tackle turnover that McCaw would be proud of.  I would start him in a test if Woodcock was injured, otherwise leave him out of the 22 would be my choice.

16:  Andrew Hore  -  7/10
If the Cartel are looking for impact off the bench, here it is.  Hore has been in great form in the limited game time at this RWC, and may, just may, be forcing himself onto the bench for the coming weeks.  Meaning Mealamu can make his impact for the first 60 minutes of the game, and old Grenade Face, well, he may find himself on the bench, until perhaps the final, where he could start, should as expected the Boers be our foe - or even the Argies, another very strong scrummaging side.

18:  Chris Jack  -  8/10
Who said this big ox can't add impact off the bench?  Came on and was straight into the thick of things, not missing a beat, but best of all was the big run from the missed clearing kick where he made like a winger and scythed (for a lock, perhaps more like plowed) through the Romanian defence, setting up the Hore try.

19:  Richie McCaw  -  8/10
For all those calling for Mealamu to start off the bench because he offers more impact from there than Oliver, well, why not McCaw then, for the same reason, and Masoe starting?  I'll tell you why, because you don't pick your top XV by leaving the best players out 'as they offer more off the bench', you pick you best XV as the offer more on the bloody field!  Anyway, McCaw ranged a bit wider when he came on, and carved through the defence like a latter day Michael Jones.  Only flaw perhaps going a bit too far, or maybe not that, but not finding his support a bit earlier, giving the defence time enough to get between him and his support runners. 

20:  Brendan Leonad  -  7/10
Back to normal for super sub Leonard.  Tidy distribution, nice running, probably did enough to retain his bench spot for the knock out matches.

21:  Doug Howlett  -  8/10
Back to his best, chases anything that moves, backs up anything that doesn't, and then does it all again, and again, and again.

22:  Conrad Smith  -  7/10
Tidy again, the hamstring a thing of the past - has he done enough to get a spot next weekend, stay tuned.