Wallabies player ratings: Two outside back stars shine as World Cup bolter emerges
The wounded Wallabies showed plenty of fight, passion and character throughout a tough international season where they didn’t win as many games as they deserved.
Time and time again, week after week, indiscipline and inconsistent team selections ultimately hurt the Wallabies who lost a number of crunch clashes by agonisingly small margins.
Australia started their season with a bang, beating rivals England in Perth by two points – but wins proved hard to come by throughout the rest of 2022.
After losing their next two Test matches against their old foes England – and the series on home soil – the men in gold lost four of their next six matches before heading to Europe.
The Wallabies overcame a valiant Scotland at Murrayfield by one point to begin their five match spring tour, before losing their next three Tests by three points or less – including a first ever loss to Italy.
While they were able to complete an incredible comeback against Wales to finish their season, the disastrous run of form cannot be ignored less than a year out from the World Cup.
The rugby world saw glimpses of greatness from the men in gold throughout their spring tour and the year as a whole, but they’re just slightly off the pace.
But don’t rule them out from winning rugby’s greatest prize next year just yet.
This week, RugbyPass will berating the Wallabies players’ performances from the year that was. First up, we take a look at how the outside backs performed this year.
Outside Backs
Tom Wright – 7.5
Played: 13 (13 starts)
Best performance: England III
Wright certainly did the gold jersey justice throughout his best international season to date, where he played at a consistently high level across 13 Test matches. While the former NRL utility back didn’t score many tries, he was simply electrifying every time he touched the ball. The 25-year-old regularly led the team in run metres, and he also showcased his versatility – running out on both the wing and at fullback this season.
Wright’s best performance of the season came in the epic series decider against England at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground. The star winger scored a brilliant try mid-way through the first half, in what was otherwise a standout performance. Wright ran the ball 13 times for a staggering 113 metres, where he made two line breaks and broke five tackles.
Considering the depth Australia have in their outside backs, Wright arguably had a point to prove a year out from the World Cup – well, so does every player really. But if he can continue this form into Super Rugby with the Brumbies then Wright can’t possibly be left out of the Wallabies’ squad to head to France.
Marika Koroibete – 7.5
Played: 9 (9 starts)
Best performance: South Africa I
Koroibete is the best winger in the world – it’s as simple as that. While he missed the entirety of Australia’s end-of-season tour, the 30-year-old was still named in World Rugby’s dream team last month.
The rugby world watched on in awe earlier this year as Koroibete took his game to a completely new level against reigning World Cup champions South Africa in Adelaide. Koroibete ran the ball with purpose and intent – as he always does – and that was impressive on its own, but nobody will soon forget that tackle. Springboks winger Makazole Mapimpi had mere metres out from the try-line when a rampaging Koroibete came charging over from the other wing, and met him with one of the tackles of the year.
Mark Nawaqanitawase – 7
Played: 3 (3 starts)
Best performance: Wales
Nawaqanitawase wasn’t nominated for World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, he simply made his Test debut too late, but he might be the find of the year anyway. The rising star was simply phenomenal in his three Test starts, including a player of the match display against Wales.
The Welsh crowd at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium burst into a loud cheer as winger Rio Dyer crossed for a try against Australia last month – seemingly extending the home sides lead to an unconquerable margin. But don’t sleep on the Wallabies. Australia were able to fight their way back from 21-points to snatch the lead in the dying stages, and winger Nawaqanitawase was the key.
Nawaqanitawase scored two tries in 10 minutes to get the men in gold back into the contest, but was otherwise working tirelessly to get involved. An incredible find for Dave Rennie and the Wallabies, and he would seemingly be a genuine bolter to make the World Cup squad.
Andrew Kellaway – 6.5
Played: 8 (6 starts)
Best performance: All Blacks I
Kellaway is simply a must for the Wallabies’ World Cup squad. While the utility back didn’t stand out as much as he has done in the past, his versatility is just too good to turn down. Playing on both the wing and at fullback, Kellaway was impressive in the opening Test against England in July.
But without a shadow of a doubt, in my mind, Kellaway’s best performance of the year was the thrilling Bledisloe Cup Test in Melbourne. Not only did he score a couple of tries, but he was generally lethal in both attack and defence – was a key part of Australia’s valiant display.
Jordan Petaia – 6
Played: 9 (4 starts)
Best performance: Ireland
Jordan Petaia is only 22-years-old, and while many expect or want greatness from him right away, there is still plenty of time for him to develop into a Wallabies superstar. Injuries have stunted the up-and-comers rise since he made his Test debut at the 2019 World Cup, and this year was similar.
Petaia had his chance to start against England at Suncorp Stadium earlier this year, but he left the field for a concussion test – and was later ruled out of the decider. But he still had his chances to impress this year.
The rising star’s best moment from the year was undoubtedly his try against Ireland at Dublin, which gave the Wallabies the chance to level the scores against the worlds’ No 1 team. Petaia has been highly touted since playing GPS High School rugby in Brisbane, and we saw why with this score – slicing through the Ireland defence to cross for a five-pointer.
Jock Campbell – 6
Played: 5 (2 starts)
Best performance: France
After an impressive series of matches with Australia A, Campbell was called up to the Wallabies squad for their spring tour. While he didn’t have much of an opportunity to impress off the bench in his debut against Scotland – although he did catch Blair Kinghorn’s missed penalty attempt – he made up for it the next week.
Campbell scored a try and played a crucial part in another as the Wallabies appeared to be heading towards an incredible upset win against World No. 2 France. But a did miss a tackle inside the final minutes which ultimately saw France score and win the match.
Overall, some great signs for the future.
Reece Hodge – 5
Played: 6 (3 starts) *in the outside backs or #23 jersey
Best performance: South Africa I
Australia’s Mr Fix It covers so many different positions that he’s going to pop up in a few of these pieces this week. Hodge has played in the midfield and halves as well in the gold jersey, but this year he was able to make his mark out the back.
Playing at fullback against the world champion Springboks in Adelaide, Hodge was a reliable option under the high ball and generally did his job. But if we’re grading him simply as an outside back, then other players simply outperformed him.
Suliasi Vunivalu – N/A
Played: 1 (0 starts)
Best performance: England
Vunivalu has the potential to be one of the best wingers in Australia – if not the world – but he just wasn’t able to make the most of his chance in gold this year. The former Melbourne Storm flyer made his international debut against England earlier this year, but only had one run.
Tom Banks – N/A
Played: 2 (2 starts)
Best performance: France
It’s hard to grade Banks who was injured in the opening Test match of the year. Australian rugby fans will certainly be eager to see how he fares in Super Rugby next year, ahead of the World Cup where he’ll likely play a major role.
Izaia Perese – N/A
Played: 1 (0 starts)
Perese only donned the coveted Wallabies jersey once this year, but he left the field with a knee injury. Earlier in that Test against Eddie Jones’ England in Brisbane, the former NRL star was controversially yellow carded.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 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.
6 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 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)
4 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.
6 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.
22 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
22 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.
4 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 comments