OPINION: The All Blacks were thoroughly outplayed and suffered their first World Cup defeat since 2007 in a 19-7 semi-final loss to England.
Coach Steve Hansen's team lacked intensity right from the opening whistle and were tactically poor, with aimless kicks and no dominance upfront.
Newshub's John Day witnessed the loss at Yokohama Stadium and delivers his player ratings.
PLAYER RATINGS
1. Joe Moody - 5
Wasn't able to put his stamp on the game, as he did against Ireland. Slow to the breakdown and was unable to physically match the English.
Subbed after 63 minutes.
2. Codie Taylor - 5
Not the way he wanted to celebrate his 50th test. A couple of lineouts went astray in the first half and Taylor was largely anonymous.
Made all of his 11 tackles, but they weren't dominant. Subbed after 49 minutes.
3. Nepo Laulala - 4
Gave away a scrum penalty and was another unable to impose himself physically on the English. The All Blacks could've done with some Owen Franks mongrel.
Subbed after 54 minutes.
4. Brodie Retallick - 6
One of very few All Blacks forwards to threaten with ball in hand. Overshadowed by Maro Itoje, who had a blinder.
5. Sam Whitelock - 4
Got absolutely pole-axed with ball in hand and looked sluggish around the field. A momentum killer, when a penalty got reversed for him pushing Owen Farrell in the face late in the game.
Subbed straight after that in the 67th minute.
6. Scott Barrett - 6
His first test start at blindside flanker won't be one to remember, apart from his try-saving chasedown of English winger Jonny May, which was sensational.
Was brought in to dominate the lineout and add physicality, which he wasn't able to do. Subbed at halftime.
7. Ardie Savea - 8
Was a one-man gang in the forward pack. Without Sam Cane by his side, Ardie had to double his workload.
A game-high 18 tackles, with no misses and rewarded with the All Blacks' only try from a stolen lineout.
8. Kieran Read - 5
A terrible way to sign off for one of the great All Blacks (next week’s bronze playoff doesn’t count as a game in my books).
Wasn't able to rev up his team for the start of the match and missed a lot of tackles. Last week's huge performance clearly took its toll.
9. Aaron Smith - 5
Didn't get the armchair ride he received last week and wasn't able to stamp his mark on the game. A terrible box-kick when the All Blacks had a rare opportunity to attack in the first half.
Subbed after 54 minutes.
10. Richie Mo'unga - 4
Wasn't able to come up with any plays to crack the brilliant English defence or find any space. Missed tackle at the start of the game led to England scoring after just 98 seconds.
11. George Bridge - 4
The worst performance of his test career so far. Wasn't his usual industrious self, chased kicks poorly and wasn’t a threat with ball in hand.
Subbed after 49 minutes.
12. Anton Lienert-Brown - 7
Grew into the game as it went on and tried his guts out, but wasn't able to continue his stellar form from the start of the tournament.
Sixteen runs and 15 tackles with just one miss.
13. Jack Goodhue - 8
The only All Black ready from the opening whistle. Ran strongly with the ball and made some big hits.
Maybe the whole team should've got mullets for the game? Subbed after 54 minutes.
14. Sevu Reece - 5
Had a couple of chances to do something special, but wasn't able to convert his opportunities on the biggest stage.
15. Beauden Barrett - 4
Gifted England an intercept, only for brother Scott to save his blushes. Put up an innocuous attacking bomb in the first half.
Just didn’t look good at all, which was strange, given his tremendous form previously.
Reserves:
16. Dane Coles - 5
Provided a good spark off the bench and once again found himself in the backfield with ball in hand, but wasn't able to finish.
17. Ofa Tuungafasi - 4
Another forward who couldn't stand up to the English pack.
18. Angus Ta'avao - 4
Not suited for this type of game.
19. Patrick Tuipulotu - 5
Only played 12 minutes and didn't do anything outstanding.
20. Sam Cane - 6
Should've started. The industrious openside threw his body into rucks, and at least made Underhill and Curry work for the ball, after they got a free invitation to pilfer pill in the first half.
21. TJ Perenara - 5
His passing just isn't good enough to give the backs the extra split-second they need when they're trying to bust a hole in strong defences.
22. Sonny Bill Williams - 6
Carted the ball up strongly but wasn't able to produce those brilliant SBW moments that has seen him win two World Cups previously.
23. Jordie Barrett - 2
An idiotic offload gifted England three points, just as the All Blacks seemed about to stage a comeback.
Join us for live updates of the semi-final between South Africa and Wales from 10pm on Sunday October 27.
John Day is a Newshub sports reporter, covering the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
