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Wales player ratings vs Wallabies | July series first Test

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Ben Thomas of Wales passes the ball during the men's International Test match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at Allianz Stadium on July 06, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

The Wallabies gave Wales a great welcome to Sydney this afternoon as they defeated the visitors 25-16 at the Allianz Stadium in the first of their summer tests.

Here is how we rated the Welsh players:

He was dominated at scrum time and looked out of his depth against a powerful Wallaby forward pack. Would have been relieved to exit the field shortly into the second half. Off at 41.

2 Dewi Lake – 5.5
Lost his bind with Thomas early on when the scrum was under pressure, which led to a Wallaby penalty. He worked the lineouts well but was guilty of knocking the ball on in an important attacking position as the first half drew to a close. Off at 72.

3 Archie Griffin – 7.5
He topped the Welsh tackle charts with a tremendous defensive performance and held his own against a scrum that would melt most forwards. Off at 74.

Set Plays

5
Scrums
4
100%
Scrum Win %
100%
11
Lineout
12
82%
Lineout Win %
75%
9
Restarts Received
6
100%
Restarts Received Win %
100%

4 Christ Tshiunza – 7.5
Another mighty defensive effort from the big man. A high tackle rate and brilliantly forced an Australian penalty giveaway when camped on the Welsh try line – a vital play to give his teammates some much-needed rest. Sent his teammates back to that position just 20 minutes later, however, when he put his hands on the opposition 9. He didn’t see much of the ball, something that the Welsh coaches will want to address if Wales are to gain front-foot possession in the next test.

5 Dafydd Jenkins – 7.5
A very similar performance to his lock partner. A big voice in the lineout and a vital cog in working the penalty try. High tackle rate throughout which kept his side within touching distance at all times. Off at 65.

6 Taine Plumtree – 7.5
A huge hit from Plumtree set the tone early on as he put in a confident display on the flank. Impressive in the lineout and constantly involved in the tackle area, will be pleased with his performance. Off at 56.

7 Tommy Reffell – 7.5

It’s hard to rate Reffell any different to his compatriots as they worked so impressively as a unit in defence, although he was guilty of missing a couple of his tackles. In attack Reffell found himself carrying the ball a couple more times, but as a group, they warranted an overall score.

The Creme de la Crop of Welsh forwards today. Whilst all of them performed admirably in defence, Wainwright stood out for his impeccable work in both defence and attack. Constantly causing the Aussies problems with ball in hand, this number 8 found himself to be the key weapon in an otherwise laboured Welsh attack.

9 Ellis Bevan – 6.5
After a solid first 35 minutes, he dropped a simple high ball straight into the hands of Rio Dyer right in front of him to give away the penalty. He redeemed himself with a beautiful 50:22 in the second half which gave his teammates some much-needed territory and possession. Off at 72.

10 Ben Thomas – 6
Big test at 10 for a player that normally finds himself in the centres. It looked like it was going to be a rosy day at the office for the young man after nailing his first kick at goal. Sadly without the necessary go-forward, Thomas was unable to do much in the way of playmaking as he saw his side starved of ball. Off at 72.

11 Rio Dyer – 4.5
A quiet game for the talented winger. Early on he looked shaky under a short crossfield and later picked up a ball in a clearly offside position at the end of the first half. Guilty of missing a couple of tackles too, but did look dangerous when the ball was actually in his hands.

12 Mason Grady – 5
Part of a centre partnership that was never really given the opportunity to play, did his job in defence though. Moved onto the wing following Liam William’s injury which didn’t look any more fun for him. Tom Wright made him look silly for his try.

13 Owen Watkin – 4.5
Made a few carries, and missed a couple of tackles. But if you hadn’t checked the stats you could argue that you’d not noticed him until the final ten minutes.

14 Josh Hathaway – 2
A bit of a shocker sadly. Showed inexperience with an overcooked kick to space early on which landed squarely in touch. Missed five tackles in total and simply walked into touch when receiving the ball near the Wallaby touchline. Not a day to remember.

15 Liam Williams – 7.5
Looked dangerous with the ball in hand and pulled off a mighty impressive touchline kick as he counter-attacked the Wallaby defence. Headbutted by his own teammate during a celebration, will feel that one in the morning. Off at 63.

Attack

151
Passes
157
130
Ball Carries
104
312m
Post Contact Metres
202m
3
Line Breaks
2

Substitutes

16 Evan Lloyd – N/A
On at 72.

17 Kemsley Mathias
On at 41. Came on to sure up the scrum, but ended up being battered in the contact area.

18 Harri O’Connor – N/A
On at 72.

19 Cory Hill – 5
On at 65. Made very little impact when he arrived on the field – needed to get involved in the game more.

20 James Botham – 7.5
On at 56. Impressive start to proceedings, touching down with his first touch, but sadly for him the try was eventually disallowed. Carried well into contact and made his fair share of tackles.

21 Kieran Hardy – 7
On at 72. Did the simple things right, played fast and direct and he looked to get his teammates on the ball, an impressive showing.

22 Sam Costelow – 7
On at 72. Looked incredibly lively as he helped speed up a previously lacking Welsh defence.

23 Nick Tompkins – 6.5
Skinned on the outside by Tom Wright, but otherwise played an impressive part in the revitalised Welsh attack.

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I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 4 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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