Rugby World Cup: Wallabies player ratings vs Fiji
The Wallabies fought back to avoid a catastrophic result at the World Cup, needing two tries from hooker Tolu Latu to help see off Fiji 39-21 in Sapporo.
railing 21-12 with half-an-hour remaining on Saturday, the Australian pack took command in a period when Fiji was reduced to 14 men through a yellow card – to ensure they dodged what would have been one of the worst results in their tournament history.
Despite ultimately scoring six tries to two, there is plenty of work for Michael Cheika’s men to do before playing Wales next week after an error-riddled first-half performance in which they had been bullied by the Fijians.
15. Kurtley Beale:
Coped well with the assortment of high bombs that rained down on him, but was largely anonymous on attack – making just one metre from his two carries.
5/10
14. Reece Hodge:
Got steam-rolled a couple of times by Fijian runners and was lucky to escape for an illegal shoulder charge, but bounced by to score a crucial try late in the first half.
5/10
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13. James O’Connor:
Struggled with the monstrous Fijian runners, but showed some neat skills when he did have the ball in hand.
5/10
12. Samu Kerevi:
Returned the favour to the big Fijians with some powerful runs of his own. However, was a touch selfish and cost his team a certain try when they were a man up in the second half.
6/10
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2qejWEo2bE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
11. Marika Koroibete:
May be strong with ball in hand, but his defence remains suspect, especially against equally forceful brutes.
6/10
10. Christian Lealiifano:
Had an abundance of white missiles heading his way every time the ball came in his direction. Also missed more tackles than he made.
5/10
9 Nic White:
For a scrumhalf, his hands were not the greatest and his decision-making also let him down at times. Not a surprise he was yanked from the field early in the second half.
4/10
8 Isi Naisarani:
The pace of the game in the first half appeared to leave him lagging, but he did look good with the ball in hand.
5/10
7 Michael Hooper (captain):
Was busy, as usual, with 15 carries and making all but one of his tackles. Satisfactory day at the office.
6/10
6 David Pocock:
He showed just how valuable he is to the Wallabies – making nine tackles and winning four turnovers (including a couple of penalties). Was penalised on occasion when pushing the envelope at the breakdown.
7/10
High tackle sanction framework called into question after Australia-Fiji gamehttps://t.co/iPRBhRGP2a
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
5 Rory Arnold:
He needed a more structured game to be effective. Eight carries for just 14 metres and just three tackles.
5/10
4 Izack Rodda:
Was very busy, but not always effective – his nine carries just yielding 17 metres. Made just four tackles and missed one.
6/10
3 Allan Alaalatoa:
Another forward that got very little reward for his work, his six carries going a total of seven metres forward. He also missed just one of his tackles.
5/10
2 Tolu Latu:
The most productive of the Wallaby forwards – 10 carries, making all his tackles and being accurate in the set pieces. Add in his two tries – albeit a couple of armchair rides – and he is good value for his Man of the Match award.
8/10
1 Scott Sio:
Powerful scrumming and a turnover at the breakdown was the sum total of his contribution. His three carries were mostly ineffective.
5/10
The Fijians performed as expected in Sapporo, a mixture of brilliant and underwhelming play in their entertaining loss to Australiahttps://t.co/oJ0KV0wFck
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 21, 2019
Reserves:
16 Jordan Uelese (on for Latu, 63rd minute):
Brought an energy that was required in the final quarter. The perfect substitute for the hard-working starting hooker.
6/10
17 James Slipper (on for Sio, 63rd minute):
Brought nothing different, other than solid scrums against a pack that was one man down.
5/10
18 Sekope Kepu (on for Alaalatoa, 63rd minute):
One carry and his work in the set pieces. No other impact.
5/10
19 Adam Coleman (on for Arnold, 69th minute):
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (on for Naisarani, 57th minute):
The one forward that came off the bench and had a higher workrate than the player he replaced. Made all his tackles and won a crucial line-out.
6/10
21 Will Genia (on for White, 50th minute):
Made his presence felt from the moment he stepped on the field, using his superior kicking skills to relieve pressure on his team.
7/10
22 Matt To’omua (on for Lealiifano, 59th minute):
Brought a stability to a misfiring backline, also solid on defence and plugging the gap that was the No.10 channel.
6/10
23 Dane Haylett-Petty (on for Beale, 71st minute):
Not enough time to rate.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments