Playmakers continue to cause Schmidt frustration as bench fails to provide spark

Joe Schmidt described the Wallabies’ 33-13 defeat as “frustrating” and his initial synopsis was on the money.

For a side that created so much they had little to show for their endeavour and ambition.

Indeed, Fraser McReight’s try was the only five-pointer they came away with at the Cake Tin.

But after dominating the opening 15 minutes and final quarter, Schmidt would have hoped to have converted three chances.

Jake Gordon failed to gobble up one ball on the deck when the tryline was his, McReight was held up once and Harry Wilson shelled a pass when the Wallabies had just spent 24 phases peppering the All Blacks’ line.

The All Blacks meanwhile managed to break the Wallabies’ line far too easily, especially in the opening half when the visitors would have felt they should have had the half time.

Will Jordan wrong-footed McReight and somehow cruised to the try line while his wingers Sevu Reece and Caleb Clarke also got on the scoresheet.

Clarke’s try on the stroke of half time was the turning point, as the winger made the most of Scott Barrett’s decision to kick for touch rather than goal.

Unfortunately for Schmidt he didn’t get anywhere near the same impact from his bench that he got one week earlier, as the Wallabies’ structure in attack broke down.

So how did the players rate?

Tom Wright – 7

The Wallabies didn’t lose because of their back three and Wright was one of his side’s best.

The fullback made a couple of linebreaks (32nd minute and 76th minute) and also freed up Len Ikitau in the tenth minute after some super hands.

Wright bit once in defence as Damian McKenzie pulled off a stunning sweeping play to free up Clarke to score in the second half.

Andrew Kellaway – 6.5

Like Wright, the Wallabies winger enjoyed one of his best evenings under Schmidt.

Kellaway managed to get himself into the game early with a lovely switch of play from the scrum in the second minute and his kick in behind the All Blacks defence should have led to an early try.

The Wallabies winger helped save the day in the second half when he managed to rip the ball away from TJ Perenara after the Japan-bound halfback broke into the opposition 22.

Later, Kellaway managed to back up Wright’s fine work by winning possession back from a neat crossfield kick. He also swallowed up a neat chip from Noah Lolesio, too.

Len Ikitau – 6

Another to excel, particularly early. Ikitau played his part in a gorgeous sweeping play where the Wallabies ran it out of their half successfully from a kick restart in the tenth minute.

His superb hands to McReight late in the second half should have seen the Wallabies find the ascendency and momentum to score points.

Hunter Paisami – 4

There was no faulting his effort but Paisami’s execution let him down as he was easily outplayed by Anton Lienert-Brown.

Paisami’s night was summed up by his hurried pass to Nick Frost that floated forward in the tenth minute. The inside centre needed to retain possession and hold the ball.

Soon after his pass back on the inside proved too hot to handle for Dylan Pietsch in the 13th minute.

Paisami’s poor chip and chase in the 48th minute fortunately didn’t come back to bite him as the All Blacks were pinged for sealing off. But the decision-making summed up the Wallabies’ poor start to the second half where they were fractionally off in every area.

Dylan Pietsch – 6.5

A strong starting debut, Pietsch made the most of his opportunity and should wear the No.11 jersey against England on November 10.

The Force-bound winger’s early couple of touches were quality, including during the Wallabies’ linebreak in the 10th minute.

He spilled one hot pass from Paisami three minutes later but Pietsch was otherwise strong in contact and a presence on either side of the ball.

His fine leap from outside the field of play ensured the All Blacks didn’t get a five-metre lineout late in the first half.

Noah Lolesio – 5

It’s not that Lolesio necessarily did anything wrong, it’s just the playmaker wasn’t able to boss the game and take control when he needed to.

Lolesio got his hands on the ball early and was faultless from the kicking tee, but he also couldn’t make the most of it when the Wallabies got some front foot ball and found space behind the All Blacks’ defensive line.

He wasn’t help by some slow ball, but Lolesio had to demand the ball at times and continue the momentum. He didn’t. It’s a huge area of growth for him.

Jake Gordon – 5

Replaced midway through the second half, Gordon’s was fine but wasn’t able to probe around the ruck when the Wallabies made inroads.

Gordon’s failure to dive on the ball and touch down for an early try was one clear chance that went begging early.

His poor box kick in the 38th minute allowed Will Jordan and the All Blacks to counter. And counter they did, with the home side finding the momentum to seize the moment in the minutes before half time.

Harry Wilson – 5

More good and bad from Wilson.

His pressure in defence forced Ardie Savea to knock on in the 32nd minute, but Wilson’s hands let him down too. The Wallabies skipper dropped two balls (50th and 72nd minute respectively) and both proved costly.

The Wallabies skipper’s work-rate couldn’t be faulted, with 14 carries and 17 tackles.

Fraser McReight – 6

After a fine opening 20 minutes where McReight scored and won a breakdown penalty, the openside flanker was wrong-footed by Jordan in the 22nd minute. The moment proved costly as the All Blacks easily took the lead despite the Wallabies enjoying the better of the opening stages.

Later, in the 36th minute, McReight was held up over the line when the Wallabies were playing under advantage.

The openside flanker topped the tackle count with 19.

Rob Valetini – 6

A strong 60 minutes, Valetini once again was the Wallabies’ most physical player. He made nine tackles without a miss and regularly dented the defensive line.

One example of that was when he bumped off Clarke from a lineout in the 34th minute.

Earlier, Valetini and Angus Bell were fractionally too slow with a breakdown clearance as Wilson was pinged for holding on in the 21st minute.

Jeremy Williams –  6.5

Arguably Williams’ strongest Test.

The Wallabies’ main lineout target, Williams made ten tackles to continue his strong work rate. But it was his fine work at the kick restarts and with the ball in hand that stood out, with the second rower beating three defenders with his neat footwork.

Nick Frost – 6

An improved performance from Sydney, Frost was busy in defence and made one lineout steal in the 28th minute.

Frost once bit in defence which allowed Anton Lienert-Brown to put Clarke through a hole and score on half time. It’s an area Frost has to improve.

Taniela Tupou – 5

After looking like he’d be an early withdrawal, Tupou got through 43 minutes.

Like Wilson, there was some good and bad.

His scrummaging was strong and he won a breakdown penalty in the 18th minute which allowed the Wallabies to extend their lead.

But a poor two minutes where he was banged into touch in the 26th minute and then gave away a penalty at the maul allowed the All Blacks some more field position and territory.

He also gave away another penalty soon after for a no-arms tackle.

Matt Faessler – 6

A strong 49-minute shift, Faessler’s set-piece work operated well while he was busy around the field.

The hooker lost just one lineout in the 20th minute.

Angus Bell – 5.5

Strong defensively but Bell’s destructive ball carrying was missed.

Reserves

Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 5

Gave away a penalty for being offside and lost a couple of lineouts, including one that was deemed not straight on the 57th minute mark.

Later, he won a breakdown penalty in the 76th minute. It was part of a big defensive shift where he made 13 tackles in tight.

Isaac Kailea – 5

He was present on both sides of the ball, but the recalled loose-head prop wasn’t able to shift the narrative.

Allan Alaalatoa – 5

Superb defensively but not dominate at the scrum either.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 5

Another unable to turn the tide in the second half despite not putting a step wrong.

Langi Gleeson – 5

Replaced Valetini midway through the second half, Gleeson tried but couldn’t break the line either.

Tate McDermott – 5

One or two snipes but the halfback was well contained.

Ben Donaldson – N/A

Entered the fray late.

Josh Flook – 5

Manhandled once in attack, Flook was part of a bench that tried but was unable to break the All Blacks.