Australia v Ireland - Ireland player ratings
Ireland have won their first series in Australia since 1979. The Six Nations champions edged the Wallabies 20-16 in the third Test thanks to CJ Stander’s try and five penalties from the impressive Johnny Sexton. Nathaniel Cope looks at how their players fared.
15. Rob Kearney 6
Tested early on by Bernard Foley but gathered the chip ahead. He also had to deal with Kurtley Beale and gave away a five-yard scrum in the 10th minute for a foot in touch in the in-goal area after one of the former Wasps man’s kicks. Took a bang to the shoulder in the 20th minute, but dusted himself off. Not his best performance and subbed off in the 57th minute for Jordan Larmour.
14. Keith Earls 6
Only really got his hands on the ball once in the first half. He competed well with Dane Haylett-Petty with the restart after Ireland’s try, but otherwise a quiet enough day for him.
13. Robbie Henshaw 7
Shifted back to the 13 jersey in the absence of Garry Ringrose. He was penalised for a high tackle on Israel Folau in the 65th minute, which thankfully for the Leinsterman Foley missed. Defensively he and Aki stemmed the Australian threat.
12. Bundee Aki 8
Returned to the team with Ringrose out and it’s a less subtle approach with him in the side. He was certainly industrious with several notable carries. Also fond of a big hit as Samu Kerevi will testify to, made in the 38th minute. Ten tackles and a turnover, a fine day’s work from the Connacht man.
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11. Jacob Stockdale 4
In for the injured Andrew Conway and quite the option to have – the 2018 Six Nations top try scorer. This was one of his poorer outings. He led with the elbow in a collision with Nick Phipps in the 20th minute and earned himself a yellow card. Rushed up in defence for Australia’s 54th minute try, with Foley kicking in behind and Marika Koroibete taking advantage. A knock on in the 67th minute too. There’s no doubting his talent with the ball in hand, 71 metres from 3 carries attests to that, but are areas of his game to work on, but at just 22 years old the potential is frightening.
10. Johnny Sexton 10
A Grand Slam, Champions Cup and PRO14 winner already this season, now he can add a series win Down Under. Key moments either side of the break from the Leinster man proved to be the difference in this match. A clever restart just before half-time which Australia – minus the sinbinned Israel Folau – failed to field properly and Ireland earned a penalty for accidental offside, to edge them 12-9 in front. His kick in behind the Australian defence in the 42nd minute left Nick Phipps isolated and earned Ireland a penalty deep in Australia’s 22, a minute later Ireland had their try. A brutal hit from Samu Kerevi with five minutes to go was a real rib tickler, but he’s used to it and responded with a nerveless 79th minute penalty to give Ireland a four-point advantage.
9. Conor Murray 8
Missed a long-range penalty in the 25th minute. Denied a try by the TMO in the 33rd minute as he dived in at the base of he posts. He had a decent tussle with Nick Phipps and would have been relieved when the Wallaby was replaced by Joe Powell. In tight games the Munster scrum half is kept on the pitch, which is mark of him, but also highlights the questions over Murray’s alternatives.
1.Jack McGrath 6
Given a start ahead of Cian Healy and had a solid if unspectacular outing.
2. Niall Scannell 7
Sean Cronin’s hamstring injury during the captain’s run handed Scannell another chance to start. An inauspicious beginning to this one with his first lineout in the 7th minute going awry, when Ireland were in a decent attacking position. His perfect throw to the tail in the 44th minute to set up Ireland’s try made amends.
3 Tadhg Furlong 7
A lively first half, including a mini break in the 15th minute. Furlong and the scrum started to struggle when Australia emptied their bench. Came off in the 66th minute.
4. James Ryan 7
One of the first names on the Ireland team sheet and this was just his 11th Test. Four carries, 13 tackles and a turnover represents another decent shift.
5. Devin Toner 7
Consistently excellent at the lineout, made the call for the throw to the tail for Ireland’s try. Did the necessary in the loose too.
6. CJ Stander 8
Was quiet in the second Test when it came to ball carrying, but he was back to normal again with eight carries in the third Test. He had a fine game and it was capped by scoring the game’s only try
7. Peter O’Mahony (capt.) 7
Switched from blindside to openside for this one and admitted in the build-up he couldn’t remember the last time he’d played in the position. A turnover in the first minute, as he continued where he left off from the second Test. Taken out in the air by Israel Folau in the 31st minute from the restart and landed heavily on his back, went off and replaced by Jordi Murphy.
8. Jack Conan 7
Ireland’s top tackler with a monstrous 20, a huge effort. Not the abrasive ball carrier in the mould of Stander, but his game intelligence marks him out.
16. Rob Herring 6
An excellent tour, a fine performance when he started the first Test and followed it with two solid appearnances from the bench.
17. Cian Healy 6
His battle for the loosehead shirt with Jack McGrath is a fierce one and he came on in the 55th minute for his Leinster clubmate. Gave away a scrum penalty in the 63rd minute. Most of his work was in defence, he didn’t get a chance to punch holes with the ball in hand.
18. John Ryan 6
Selected on the bench ahead of Andrew Porter. Came on in the 66th minute with the scrum under pressure, but handled it well.
19. Tadhg Beirne 6
Didn’t make the impact he would have liked from the bench last week, but the new Munster signing was given another chance in the backrow, did the necessary during his 12 minutes on the pitch.
20. Jordi Murphy 7
After a poor first Test, he made a solid contribution in the second when he came on at half-time. He came on in the 31st minute in the third after O’Mahony’s injury. His take at the tail set up the platform for Ireland’s try.
21. Kieran Marmion N/A
The preferred back-up to Murray in Schmidt’s eyes, but with John Cooney and Luke McGrath having fine club seasons, the Connacht scrum half is being put under pressure. Didn’t make an appearance off the bench in this one.
22. Ross Byrne N/A
Preferred to Joey Carbery as Johnny Sexton’s back-up at Leinster, but will have to wait to finally test himself at international level as Joe Schmidt elected to keep Sexton on the pitch due to the closeness of the contest.
23. Jordan Larmour 8
Finally given a stretch at full back to show his talents and he was a threat every time he got possession, he made 39 metres from his two carries – impressive stuff. Took an excellent 76th minute high ball under heavy pressure.
In other news: Claims of racism over Phil Kearns’ commentary during Ireland Test
Comments on RugbyPass
A lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
1 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
2 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
2 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
21 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
21 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to commentsMake what step up? Manie has a World Cup winner’s medal around his neck and changed the way the Springboks can play. He doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. The win record of the Boks with him in the team is tremendous. Sacha can be wonderful and I hope he has a very succesful Bok career, but comparing him to Manie in terms of the next Bok flyhalf is very strange. Manie is the incumbent (not the next) and doing pretty incredibly.
4 Go to comments