Australia
Adam Ashley-Cooper Unlucky to concede a crucial penalty before half-time. Hustle and bustle as ever, but to little effect. He was no Kurtley Beale on the counterattack. 5/10
James O'Connor Maybe he should have played at 15, because his counterattacking was more of a threat. Just could not get into the game – not enough happening inside him. 6
Anthony Faingaa Did not really feature at all. Tossed around a couple of times and pulled out of position for try. Ashley-Cooper would have been better deployed there. 3
Pat McCabe Solid up-and-down sort of player, which made him quite valuable in a side not really knowing where to go. The straight line off Cooper's bendy curves. 6
Digby Ioane Australia's most threatening runner. Came the second closest of either side to scoring a try when he scattered defenders like an All Black. 7
Quade Cooper He did make up for a wretched opening, but it was in a mad-cap, I've-no-idea-where-this-is-going kind of way. By then the damage had been done. 4
Will Genia They will be building the team around this guy. Despite the crumbling edifice that was his pack, he kept the Aussie project on the move. Enjoy him v Phillips in the play-off. 7
Sekope Kepu Off after 20 minutes with an eye he could no longer see out of. Drain it with a knife, man — like that warrior in Apocalypto. Richie McCaw would have. 3
Stephen Moore As good a barometer as any for how this Australia team is playing. Never quite got his game going. Stupid penalty at start of second half was particularly damaging. 4
Ben Alexander Got through a lot of tackles and was a willing carrier, but part of a scrum that suffered. But he's another young player for this team to build round. 5
Dan Vickerman Looked peripheral. But then he is a 32-year-old who has just spent three years as a student on the lash. Never likely to dominate at this RWC. 3
James Horwill Another building block. He takes on an awful lot in the set piece and around the park. His selection as captain is one of Robbie Deans's bold calls that did work. 6
Rocky Elsom Brushed aside by a mere full-back for the only try of the game. He is another whose form determines how this team plays. If only he were more consistent. On his day … 4
David Pocock His form does not determine anything, because it is always excellent. And that is another starting point for Australia to work from. Toe to toe with Richie McCaw. 7
Radike Samo Struggled. But then he is a 35-year-old who was in semi-retirement less than two years ago. Has been fairly exceptional since, but this looked a step too far. 3
Substitutes
Slipper (for Kepu 20) Actually, pretty good, especially in the loose. 6
Barnes (for McCabe 47) With Cooper's tendency to wander, he really should have started as an auxiliary 10. 6
McCalman (for Samo 60) He's a grafter. 5
Simmons (for Vickerman 60) Brought a bit more to the party. 6
Horne (for Faingaa 62) Menial duties. 5
Polota Nau (for Moore 65) No match-winning for this fireball. 5
New Zealand
Israel Dagg Set up only try with dazzling footwork and off-load, rock solid under high ball, big touch-finders, hell of a full-back. Couple of handling mistakes, though. 8
Cory Jane Masterful under high-ball bombardment in first half. Not a lot to fault him on. If he'd wanted an 8, should have done more in attack. 7 pretty good though. 7
Conrad Smith Didn't really do anything. Didn't have to, which is hardly his fault. Probably saving himself for next week. 4
Ma'a Nonu Fizzing around in NZ's purple patch early on. Scored the try. Always physical. Just the kind of minder every 22-year-old third-choice fly-half should have. 6
Richard Kahui Couple of mini-breaks in first-half kept Aussies honest. But another with not a lot to do and who shouldn't be blamed for it. 5
Aaron Cruden Pretty good. Didn't exactly boss the thing, but he had others around him to do that. Nice drop goal and an early break to set up three more points. 6
Piri Weepu After an emotional week, he did fine. Missed four kicks, not all of them tricky, but after loss of Carter he has helped fill the personality void at half-back. 5
Tony Woodcock Comprehensive victory for the All Blacks scrum. Popped Alexander out for the match-securing penalty. A bit loose in the loose, though. 6
Keven Mealamu At the heart of that scrum and must have enjoyed it. The line-out was solid too. Pretty effective with ball in hand and at ruck time. 7
Owen Franks Does not say boo to a goose off the field. On it, just squeezes the goose to death. Cornerstone of the scrum and lots of tackles. 7
Brad Thorn He's like a tractor and probably drinks diesel in his spare time. One of those locks who manages to look stocky. Still wins his share of line out ball, though. 8
Sam Whitelock Honest day's work but didn't quite terrify like some of those specimens around him. But you have to go some to look good in this pack, which sometimes he does. 5
Jerome Kaino One mean hombre. Jerry Collins with a work rate. Forever in the thick of things in both attack and defence. 8
Richie McCaw His foot injury was not obviously a problem. A wonderful tussle with his opposite number, which he just about shaded. Finding his form at just the right time? 7
Kieran Read Another loose forward of the highest class, timing his run to perfection. Back-row connoisseurs will have a treat in the final next weekend. 8
Substitutes
A Williams (for Whitelock 56) A lot of carrying in his brief spell. Could yet start in final. 6
Ellis (for Weepu 56) Off again soon after, his face looking messier than his passing. 5
Hore (for Mealamu 63) Solid. 5
SB Williams (for Nonu 72) Shoulder charge spoiled things. 3
B Franks (for O Franks 79) A point for the minute he was on. 1
Vito (for Kaino 79) Ditto. 1
Referee Craig Joubert (South Africa) 6
• This article was amended on 17 October 2011 to correct the picture caption. The original named the New Zealand player shown as Aaron Cruden.
