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
SACK HIM !
1 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
77 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
77 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
77 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
77 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
77 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
77 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
77 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
77 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
77 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
77 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
77 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to comments