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Ireland player ratings vs Australia | Quilter Nations Series 2025
By Ian Cameron at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Ireland player ratings: Ireland showed that there’s still plenty of bite left in the old dog yet, looking every bit the better side for the majority of this 46-19 win over the Wallabies – who quite frankly look knackered.
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Here’s how we rated the Ireland players, with Mack Hansen standing out with a dream return to the green ranks.
1. Paddy McCarthy – 6
Scrummaged competently against veteran tighthead Allan Alaalatoa and kept his nose clean around the park.
2. Dan Sheehan – 7
Lineouts were again a little disordered early doors, although nothing on the scale seen on the last two weekends. Put in some solid contacts in the loose and very nearly bulldozed over in the 49th minute, only to be held up.
3. Tadhg Furlong – 6.5
Scrummaged decently against the Aussie loosehead bull Angus Bell and got about well in the loose.
4. James Ryan – 7
Was one of Ireland’s most frequent ball carriers, making incremental, fatigue-inducing dents in the Wallabies defensive wall. Tonnes of effort and engine before making way after 56 minutes.
5. Tadhg Beirne – 7
Not quite the headline-grabbing display he put in against the same side during the Lions tour but a favourable outing. Decent in the air.
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6. Ryan Baird – 7.5
Proved an effective option in the lineout in blustery conditions. Burst over in the 77th minute to cap a fine performance.
7. Caelan Doris – 8
A little out of position at openside, although these days does it really make a difference in the back row? Carried dominantly and got his just rewards when he rumbled over for the match-sealing try on 70 minutes.
8. Jack Conan – 7
Was in feral dog mode around the park, tearing into Wallabies like an XL Bully let loose on Lambay Island. Ran himself into the ground.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park – 7.5
Kicked really well from the base and you wouldn’t know he was playing in conditions that were wetter than an otter’s pocket, given his sharp service.
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10. Sam Prendergast – 7.5
Back in the hotseat, Prendergast started confidently here with a nice crossfield kick and put in a heavy hit on James O’Connor that forced a knock-on. However, any suggestions his tackling had suddenly improved were called into question when Len Ikitau ran through him on the way to the try-line on 18 minutes. It wasn’t to be his last missed tackle but he mixed Ireland’s attack really well. Way more good than bad on this occasion.
11. James Lowe – 6
A few heavy carries on the edge, where he proved a handful for Daugunu and Potter in close quarters. A couple of poor spills in the wet, though.
12. Stuart McCloskey – NA
Went off injured with just 26 minutes on the clock and didn’t return. Replaced by Bundee Aki.
13. Robbie Henshaw – 8
Threw a peach of a screen pass for Hansen’s second try and looked like he was having a good time out there for the first time in a long time. Capped his heartwarming return to form with a well taken crossfield-kick collect try.
14. Tommy O’Brien – 6
Didn’t see much ball in the first forty, although his spill backwards could arguably be chalked down as an assist for Hansen’s third try. Did little wrong but never really got into the game, one disallowed try from a crossfield kick aside.
15. Mack Hansen – 9
The former Brumby got off to a flyer against the nation of his birth with a brilliant AFL-style aerial take [he was a menace in the air throughout], before strolling over under the sticks a few minutes later after a slick backline move. He had bagged two more with 29 minutes on the clock to crown an amazing return to the starting squad. It wasn’t error-free but a damn fine outing.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Ronan Kelleher – 6
A solid outing from Kelleher with little fuss or fanfare.
17. Andrew Porter – 7.5
Shored up the scrum and was like a pneumatic piston when lifting at the lineouts. By the end Ireland were mullering the Australians in the scrum.
18. Thomas Clarkson – 7
As with Porter, scrummaged well, winning a 61-minute scrum penalty that saw Crowley kick Ireland more than one try ahead. Took a slab of Aussie shoulder to the chops courtesy of Nick Frost.
19. Nick Timoney – 6
Brought a healthy dose of aggression on the field.
20. Cian Prendergast – 6
Got through plenty of dog work in the mucky conditions, without any.
21. Craig Casey – NA
Not on long enough to rate.
22. Jack Crowley
Got a huge roar when replacing Prendergast. Ireland were on the back foot for much of his time on the field, so he never really got much time on the ball.
23. Bundee Aki
Came on early for an injured Stuart McCloskey and handled himself well. Helped Ireland dominate the contact zone.
