Wallabies player rating vs England | 3rd Test July 2022
Both England and Australia came into the third and final test of their series with promising performances under their belt. Discipline and execution would be the deciding factor between two teams hitting some great international form and utilising their strengths effectively.
Australia deployed their third-choice fullback due to an injury list which also includes both their starting locks, openside flanker, and x-factor first five-eighth Quade Cooper. England entered the decider with their own injury toll, with three of their players leaving the team in favour of a home recovery.
The English side came through in the end with timely breakdown turnovers, absorbing Australia’s attack as the hosts ran up the phase play and made good ground through their attacking possession. The English defence kicked up a gear when backed into their own 22, showing composure through the pressure being applied and picking their moments to devastate the Wallabies’ hopes of another comeback.
There were, however, some very positive signs for both sides looking ahead to next year’s World Cup. No doubt, Australia’s focus will be on consistency at the breakdown to maintain their platform and see some reward on the scoreboard for their attacking prowess. The English will be looking to maintain some more possession and apply pressure through their tactical territorial game.
Here’s how the Wallabies rated in defeat:
1. James Slipper – 7/10
Another huge shift. Scrum penalties were flowing both ways this game, the Aussie scrum looked most dominant at the end of the game when the fresh legs of Alaalatoa came on. Slipper was solid in defence around the ruck.
2. Dave Porecki – 6.5
Another solid all-around game, doing the little things right – and isn’t required to do much more.
3. Taniela Tupou – 6
Wasn’t able to put his stamp on this one. Got penalised at scrum time and a handling error cost some early momentum.
4. Nick Frost – 5.5
Had one or two good runs, it’s obviously not something they’re looking for from him but he finds himself in the right spot at the right time and makes the most of it. Handled the lineout well.
5. Matt Phillip – 7
Started the game with a great play, charging down the return kick and then earning a great steal. Uses his frame well around the park.
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6. Harry Wilson – 6
A quiet night for Harry. Usually such a good ball carrier but looked a bit off out of his familiar role. Still, mobile around the park and did the dirty work in the clean-outs to allow Nic White to do his thing.
7. Michael Hooper – 7.5
Immense work rate, as usual, looked like he was getting the Richie McCaw treatment the way the English were hitting him every time he carried. Excels in the ruck work keeping the ball readily available for his side.
8. Rob Valetini – 6
Didn’t see quite as much ball as in previous weeks but offered his usual physicality with his limited touches.
9. Nic White – 8
Another class performance. Tested England’s fitness with his quick delivery and variety of running options.
10. Noah Lolesio – 6.5
Started the game by missing a penalty from an advantageous position and then threw an intercept. Settled into his role and made some tricky conversions. With such physical runners coming off his shoulder, he distributed well – but his outstanding halfback does a lot of that for him.
11. Marika Koroibete – 7
This man is as consistent as they come. Made metres with most touches and often popped up around the park away from his wing.
12. Samu Kerevi – 7.5
Seemingly a cheat code for front-foot ball off the set piece. Decent work rate defensively despite being another victim of the Ellis Genge avalanche.
13. Hunter Paisami – 7
Good physical running game. Used as a decoy rather than a distributer in a lot of play.
14. Tom Wright – 8
Made the most of all opportunities that came his way. Handled the high ball well, defended with strength and found space outside the English line.
15. Reece Hodge – 6.5
A shaky start with his early kicks being surprisingly conservative but showcased his power and precision as the game wore on. Had some nice touches on attack after butchering a couple early. Dwarfed by Freddie Steward in the air.
Reserves:
16. Folou Faniga’a – 7.5
Does a great job of backing himself close to the line, picking a smaller body and running straight at them. Made a couple more good runs in centre field, contributing well to his side’s momentum.
17. Angus Bell – N/A
Barely touched the field
18. Allan Alaalatoa – 7
Good intensity, had a positive impact aside from a knock-on. Looked strong in the scrum.
19. Rob Leota – 5
Looked to be dangerous lurking wide but didn’t see much ball.
20. Pete Samu – 7.5
Again came on and had an immediate impact, very dangerous with ball in hand.
21. Tate McDermott – 7
Was able to play on top of the ball and picked out strong ball runners, maintaining momentum well.
22. Len Ikitau – 6.5
Some quality touches in limited opportunities.
23. Suliasi Vunivalu – 5
Did as much as you could expect from someone with three minutes of game time.
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments