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British and Irish Lions vs All Blacks player ratings: Kieran Read helps inflict disappointing first Test defeat for Lions

Man-for-man ratings from the first Test at Eden Park

Jack de Menezes

Eden Park

Saturday 24 June 2017 11:24 BST

All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

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1/30All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Ben Smith – 5 out of 10

Failed to take a high ball early in the game although he offering a useful option in the back line. Took a blow to the head in the 27th minute though and did not return from the HIA.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Israel Dagg – 7 out of 10

Brilliant tackle to stop Elliot Daly form scoring in the opening two minutes. Gave the All Blacks a useful kicking option, though struggled with the high ball and pace coming his way. Delivered the final pass for Codie Taylor to charge over.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Ryan Crotty – 6 out of 10

Suffered an ankle injury just after the half an hour mark and was forced off as a result, with Anto Lienert-Brown replacing him.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Sonny Bill Williams – 7 out of 10

Given a bashing by old rival Ben Te’o but refused to be second best in their titanic battle. Rarely hit backwards, and while his offloading was not at its most punishing, he still brought an impact that caught out the Lions.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Rieko Ioane – 8 out of 10

His pace is giving the Lions’ back three plenty of nightmares on this tour. Having already scored for the Blues against them, he added two more tries and justified Steve Hansen’s faith in him. His speed got him over for the first and it was his awareness that bagged the second.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Beauden Barrett – 8 out of 10

100 per cent with the boot, which has not been a common theme to his goal-kicking this season, but it was his calmness under pressure and brilliant hands that really shone through. Shifted to full-back when Ben Smith was forced off and could not be faulted.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Aaron Smith – 8 out of 10

Very lively and his pace at the breakdown caused the Lions all sorts of problems. Aware to make the most of quick penalty that led to Codie Taylor’s opening score. Supported Kieran Read to start the move that brought the second try, and took his leave immediately after to deserved applause.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Joe Moody – 7 out of 10

Didn’t crack under pressure and once again enjoyed a back-and-forth battle with Tadhg Furlong as they did in the Crusaders game.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Owen Franks – 7 out of 10

Sturdy in the scrum but guilty of giving away three points when he needlessly took out Conor Murray. Saw off Mako Vunipola before departing two minutes afterwards.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Codie Taylor – 8 out of 10

Superb pick-up from Dagg’s long pass to beat Daly on the edge and score in the corner, showing the awareness and speed of a back. Brought stability to the scrum and was reliable throwing into the lineout.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Brodie Retallick – 8 out of 10

Powerful running was a key reason why the All Blacks were able to get forward momentum so easily. He repeatedly either broke through tackles or freed his hands to offload in contact.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Sam Whitelock – 7 out of 10

Ran the All Blacks lineout well that only faltered when Maro Itoje was able to pluck the ball on the Lions’ five metre line. Strong supporting lines saw him receive a couple of offloads in space.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Jerome Kaino – 7 out of 10

Showing no signs of the knee injury that threatened his participation in this series, though Steve Hansen looked to safe him by bringing him off early.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Sam Cane – 8 out of 10

Important turnover when the Lions claimed a loose ball as he controlled the breakdown, either slowing down the Lions’ ball or stealing it completely.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Kieran Read – 9 out of 10

Emphatic return as he made mincemeat of the Lions defensive line in the lead up to the penalty that produced the try. Showed his talent for offloading in the tackle, but stepped too easily by Liam Williams that led to the Lions first-half score. More than made up for it with a genius flick off the turf to Aaron Smith that set-up Ioane for his first try, and given a standing ovation when he was removed in the final minutes.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Liam Williams – 8 out of 10

Justified Warren Gatland’s faith in him with a break from his own 22 that triggered one of the all-time great Lions tries. Looked to run with the ball in hand and excelled with Daly on the left, with the pair linking up again shortly after the break with a move that should have brought a try. Unfortunate error when he failed to catch the ball gifted Ioane his second try.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Anthony Watson – 7 out of 10

Impressive take under pressure in his 22 to call the mark, and did well to sprint back to prevent Aaron Smith’s try from finding touch, before feeding Williams to launch the move that led to the Sean O’Brien try. Had two notable runs, the first seeing him beat four men with good feetwork.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Jonathan Davies – 8 out of 10

Early break exposed the lack of game time that Williams and Crotty have had together and nearly produced a try for Elliot Daly in the corner. Ran smart supporting lines off Daly and Williams that brought success and had one powerful run through the defence right through the defence.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Ben Te’o – 8 out of 10

Battered Sonny Bill Williams as they renewed their old rugby league rivalry. Wasn’t given as much of a chance to run with the ball, but justified his Test selection.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Elliot Daly – 7 out of 10

Did extremely well to remain in play as he went for the corner in the second minute, but an exceptional tackle from Dagg prevented him from grounding the ball. Showed his speed when he surged away during O’Brien’s try, but out-gassed by Ioane for his second score.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Owen Farrell – 6 out of 10

Missed a conversion that by his standards he would expect to get, though it wasn’t an easy one. Struggled to bring the forward runners into the game around him and the move out to inside centre didn’t help his cause.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Conor Murray – 7 out of 10

As usual his box-kicking was spot-on that gave Daly and Watson the chance to compete for the ball with success. Uncharacteristically lost control of the ball when the Lions were camped on the All Blacks line.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Mako Vunipola – 7 out of 10

Couldn’t work an advantage in the scrum against Franks, though they largely proved equals for each other. Had to put in his fair share of tackling but carrying could have offered more.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Jamie George – 7 out of 10

Reliable at lineout time but will not have enjoyed being shoved backwards in the scrum again before the second try.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Tadhg Furlong – 8 out of 10

Good start in the loose as he made emphatic tackles and a good charge down.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Alun Wyn Jones – 5 out of 10

Terrible start as he looked off the pace. Struggled to get back into the defensive line, and he conceded the penalty that led to Taylor’s try. As the game wore on he started to find his feet, claiming lineout ball and also stealing a loose ball, but will be in danger of losing his place next week.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

George Kruis – 6 out of 10

The lineout functioned well bar one steal, and his carrying was good apart from one strip in contact by Cane.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Peter O’Mahony – 6 out of 10

Put in another physical display but couldn’t get his mischievous work in the lineout functioning. Replaced by tour captain Sam Warburton midway through the second half and could see that switch made permanently in the second Test.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Sean O’Brien – 8 out of 10

Had the simple task of falling over the line to finish one of the all-time great tries, though he should be commended for being in position to take Davies’ offload. Did his utmost best to compete in the breakdown, but the All Blacks proved too quick for him to get his hands on the ball.

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All Blacks vs British and Irish Lions first Test player ratings

Taulupe Faletau – 7 out of 10

Put in some strong carries and did a fair share of the tackling in what was his best showing since the opening Test.

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The British and Irish Lions know they must win in Wellington next weekend to keep their hopes of a first series victory in New Zealand in 46 years alive after suffering a hard-fought 30-15 defeat by the All Blacks in the first Test at Eden Park.

The Lions were outscored three tries to two in testing conditions in Auckland, with heavy rain battering the two teams at times during a gruelling affair.

All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor, standing in for the injured Dane Coles, scored the opening try of the three-Test series as he smartly hung out wide to take advantage of a quickly-taken penalty and dive over in the corner.

But the Lions roared back with one of their all-time great tries, with great work from Liam Williams, Elliot Daly and Jonathan Davies ending with Sean O’Brien going over.

The All Blacks we reproving too much for the Lions though, and they scored two second half tries through Blues wing Rieko Ioane before replacement scrum-half Rhys Webb scored a late consolation for the Lions.

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