Wallabies player ratings vs All Blacks | Rugby Championship
The Wallabies hosted the All Blacks at Marvel Stadium in front of a sell-out Melbourne crowd on Thursday night. Nine players born or playing in Melbourne were named in Dave Rennie’s side after the Wallabies coach made a raft of changes for the first game in the Bledisloe Series.
It was a disastrous start for the Wallabies, who botched the receiving kick-off as they mistimed the jump and it sailed over Jed Hollaway’s head. The All Blacks trucked up in close to the Wallabies try line and opened the scoring through a crash over the line through Samisoni Taukei’aho.
It looked like the All Blacks would run away with the game when the Wallabies were yellow-carded twice within minutes of each other but the Wallabies climbed back into the match through two tries to Andrew Kellaway and a stunner by Pete Samu. When Nic White nailed a 49-metre penalty kick it looked like the game was in the Wallabies’ hands, but a bizarre call for time wasting against Bernard Foley in the 78th minute gifted the All Blacks a final chance and they took it. Jordan Barrett scored in the final minute of the game to give the All Blacks the victory.
Here’s how the Wallabies rated:
1. James Slipper – 5/10
Felt the pressure at scrum time early in the game, conceding a penalty against his opposition. Worked his way back into the game after winning a couple of penalties against the head. Managed the game well as skipper, taking points when they were on offer and chancing their luck when the momentum was going their way. Suffered an injury early in the first half and didn’t return for the test of the game.
2. Dave Porecki – 5
Was solid at lineout time and coordinated some clever plays to confuse the All Blacks jumpers. Offered dynamism around the ruck, often playing the ball out the back to his fellow forwards. Subbed in the 57th minute.
3. Allan Alaalatoa – 7
Won an important scrum penalty in the first half that saw a shift in momentum towards the Wallabies. Was influential in arresting the ascendency of the All Blacks in the scrum to set the platform for the Wallabies. Continues to be an ironman for the Wallabies, assuming the captaincy from Slipper and playing 72 minutes.
4. Jed Holloway – 5
Asked to play lock for the first time in a Wallabies jersey, and it took time for him to adjust. Botched the very first play of the game by mistiming his jump and letting the ball sail over his head. Made a lot of tackles and worked hard hitting it up off the ruck. Was asked to switch to flanker as cover for Leota and lasted the 80 minutes.
5. Matt Philip – 5
Did the hard work around the ruck and in defence but couldn’t impose himself on the game. Never truly tested the All Blacks at lineout time. Was subbed off in the 51st minute.
6. Rob Leota – 5.5
In front of his home city the flanker made some impressive metres in hit-ups and put on some telling shots. He was also an option in the lineout as the Wallabies looked to mix up the picture. Unfortunately succumbed to injury late in the first half and was replaced by Darcy Swain.
7. Pete Samu – 7
Contested early at the breakdown and won a turnover for his team. Found himself in wide open spaces in the first half through a pick and go off the ruck to pin the All Blacks in their 22. Used his footwork to beat defenders and was used regularly at lineout time. Tied up the game for the Wallabies in the 75th minute with a try to give his team a chance.
8. Rob Valetini – 7
He was the main Wallabies forward tasked with getting his team over the advantage line. Carried hard in the tight channels. Almost set up Koroibete when he regathered the ball and put a grubber in downfield. Scored in the 25th minute to get the Wallabies back in the game. Won a crucial turnover with four minutes to go with the game on the line.
9. Jake Gordon – 5.5
Some poor game management let him down when the Wallabies. Made an important stop on Taukei’aho to deny him his second try just before halftime. Box kicking in the second half put pressure on the All Blacks. Was dubiously sent off for the Wallabies’ third yellow card of the night.
10. Bernard Foley – 7
Looked calm and collected and orchestrated a nice backline move in the first half. Grew as the game went on. Challenged the line at times probing for a breakthrough, and finally found a gap to put in Kellaway for his first try. The only blemish was a knock-on in the first half. Kicked four from four off the boot.
11. Marika Koroibete – 6
Put a massive shot on Caleb Clarke to pin the All Blacks in their 22. Followed it up with a barnstorming run that saw him shed six attempted tackles. Worked hard to cover ground but missed some crucial tackles. Set up Samu’s with a beautiful interchange of passing.
12. Lalakai Foketi – 6
Was a solid performance by the inside centre, who plugged the tight channels in defence and went hard at the breakdown. Won a key penalty getting over the ball to relieve pressure on the Wallabies and returning them to the full compliment.
13. Len Ikitau – 6.5
Continues to fly under the radar but it was another assured performance from the young outside centre. He was the glue that held the backline together and made hard carries through the middle of the field. Subbed in the 53rd minute.
14. Tom Wright – 5
Didn’t front up in defence when it was asked of him. Was given a yellow card for deliberately slowing the ball down in the ruck when the All Blacks were hot on attack.
15. Andrew Kellaway – 6.5
Was on the receiving end of a clever backline move but the strength of Rieko Ioane and his own hubris prevented him from grounding the ball over the try line. Made up for it with two-try second half within five minutes of each other. Struggled to cover the backfield when the Wallabies received two yellow cards at the same time and was peppered with high balls from the All Blacks. Did make some important defensive reads.
Reserves:
16. Folau Fainga’a – 5
Came on in the 60th minute and was subsequently dump-tackled by Tyrel Lomax. Followed it up with a wayward lineout throw. Finally got the lineout in good shape when it mattered.
17. Scott Sio – 6.5
Entered the fray to replace Slipper at halftime and battled well at scrum time against his opposition prop.
18. Pone Fa’amausili – N/A
On in the 72th minute to make his debut in front of his home crowd.
19. Darcy Swain – 5
Within the first minute of coming on, he was yellow-carded. When he returned he added some starch to the forward pack and was good in the air at lineout time.
20. Fraser McReight – 5
Entered the fray in the 55th minute. Contested hard at the breakdown but didn’t overplay his hands.
21. Nice White – 6.5
Came on as cover for the Gordon yellow card in the 53rd minute. Controlled the game well and it coincided with the Wallabies gaining the ascendancy. Knocked over a penalty goal from 49 metres out to nudge the Wallabies in front in the 76th minute.
22. Reece Hodge – N/A
Didn’t get on.
23. Jordan Petaia – N/A
Entered the game in the 62nd minute but was given limited opportunities.
Comments on RugbyPass
The shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, 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.
56 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 comments