Wales player ratings versus Australia
Wales ran out with the spoils, surviving a late Wallabies comeback attempt, who were inarguably the better team for the final thirty minutes of the match.
But Wales won’t care.
A humdinger of a contest. Here’s how we rated the players.
1. WYN JONES (SCARLETS) (16 CAPS)
His first Rugby World Cup and the 27-year-old looks to the manor born. Scrummaged well.
7
2. KEN OWEN (SCARLETS) (68 CAPS)
A Rugby World Cup veteran of three campaigns, Owens needed to be on form today. A solid if not outstanding outing for the Scarlets hooker.
6.5
3. TOMAS FRANCIS (EXETER CHIEFS) (44 CAPS)
Having struggled in the scrum against Georgia, the giant Exeter Chiefs prop need a big game, and he worked his heart out all day.
7.5
4. JAKE BALL (SCARLETS) (38 CAPS)
Ball brings 124kg of heft to the Welsh engine room, and a big opening carry helped set up Biggar’s dropgoal. Outshone by Captain Fantastic today but that’s no slight.
7.5
5. ALUN WYN JONES (OSPREYS) (130 CAPS) (CAPT)
A landmark occasion for Wales’ newly minted most capped player, in truth his performance was more workmanlike than heroic – which is not a criticism. A brick wall in defense, with Wales’ highest tackle count with 20 to his name.
8
6. AARON WAINWRIGHT (DRAGONS) (14 CAPS)
The risk Gatland took to start three opensides in the backrow paid off in parts, with all hands needed on deck to counter the breakdown productivity of “Pooper” and co. He played his part, tackled like a dervish and carried competently when he had to.
7
7. JUSTIN TIPURIC (OSPREYS) (67 CAPS)
Tackled like a rabid sheepdog and fought tooth and nail with Pocock and Hooper for everything on the deck. The breakdown was a warzone and he was at the coalface.
8.5
8. JOSH NAVIDI (CARDIFF BLUES) (21 CAPS)
Maybe not quite as explosive or powerful a carrier of the ball to warrant selection at No.8, but as usual the Cardiff Blue brought plenty to table elsewhere.
7
9. GARETH DAVIES (SCARLETS) (45 CAPS)
A well-read intercept snuffed out an early Australian move in 7th minute. Another inspired one was rewarded with a try before half time. Nearly got a third in the 50th minute. A few missed tackles were the only blot in his copybook.
8.5
Wales have held off a fast-finishing Australian side after leading by 23-8. #AUSvWAL #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/qoZ4bn41N5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2019
10. DAN BIGGAR (NORTHAMPTON SAINTS) (74 CAPS)
Struck early with a dropgoal in the second minute, but missed a difficult penalty attempt three minutes later. Found Parkes with a sublime crossfield kick for Wales’ first try, which he converted. Didn’t return after a HIA.
8
11. JOSH ADAMS (CARDIFF BLUES) (15 CAPS)
Busy, but you can’t but feel he needs more involvement on the ball. Has a nasty tendency of falling off tackles too.
5.5
12. HADLEIGH PARKES (SCARLETS) (20 CAPS)
Took his try brilliantly, wrestling the ball midair from the clutches of Samu Kerevi. Fell off a few too many tackles and was largely in prophylactic mode in the secondhalf.
7
13. JONATHAN DAVIES (SCARLETS) (78 CAPS)
Lucky to get away with an embarrassing attempted tackle on Kerevi in the 27th minute, a cover tackle saving his blushes. Not his best day in a red jersey but he won’t care.
5.5
14. GEORGE NORTH (OSPREYS) (88 CAPS)
Although Australia contained him relatively well early doors, he made significant inroads up the pitch with each successive carry.
7
15. LIAM WILLIAMS (SARACENS) (60 CAPS)
Mixed the masterful with the mediocre. Still, plays with the swagger of a man who treats the highest level of competition in the sport as if it were his front room.
7.5
REPLACEMENTS:
16. ELLIOT DEE (DRAGONS) (24 CAPS)
Came on for Owens, but as a unit the frontrow deteriorated in the latter stages, heaping pressure on their teammates.
6
17. NICKY SMITH (OSPREYS) (32 CAPS)
Came on in the 48th minute. Came on as a replacement in Wales’s RWC 2019 opener against Georgia and will happy with the game time afforded him here. That said, Wales’ scrum didn’t improve in the final quarter, and the replacement frontrow unit need to take ownership of that.
5.5
18. DILLON LEWIS (CARDIFF BLUES) (17 CAPS)
Came on late for Francis. As above re-scrummaging issues.
5.5
19. AARON SHINGLER (SCARLETS) (21 CAPS)
Replaced Jake Ball with 15 minutes to go. Was part of a pack of replacement forwards that were in panic mode for a few minutes. Hard to rate.
6
20. ROSS MORIARTY (DRAGONS) (36 CAPS)
Replaced Wainwright in the 58th minute, and brought a bit of bite and helped played his part as an irritant on the other side of the ball.
21. TOMOS WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES) (11 CAPS)
Energetic. The former sevens international was up for the fight.
6
22. RHYS PATCHELL (SCARLETS) (15 CAPS)
Bullied at times by the Wallabies defense. For a 6’3 flyhalf, he gets absolutely battered at times. Kicked monster a penalty after in 36th minute. Played his way into the game and ultimately left his critics with little to chatter about and plenty to praise.
7.5
23. OWEN WATKIN (OSPREYS) (17 CAPS)
Made his World Cup debut in an absolute cauldron, but not on long enough to rate.
NA
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments