Wallabies player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship
The All Blacks have retained the Bledisloe Cup for yet another year after a rampant second half saw the hosts take the match 57-22 at Auckland’s Eden Park.
The Wallabies, after the first match of the series, had given their supporters the dare-to-dream with many fans hoping the gap had narrowed between themselves and their trans-Tasman rivals. Especially going into the sheds down 21-15 at halftime with some momentum.
Yet it wasn’t to be.
What was patently on display this evening is the Wallabies have not learned from their mistakes, as they continue to make the same errors with their line out options and with the ball in hand that takes the pressure off the All Blacks and puts such pressure firmly back on themselves.
At times it was a display of stunning stupidity as repeated errors allowed the All Blacks into the game and also allowed them to take the game from Australia when the match was in the balance.
How did the Wallabies rate in the loss?
1. James Slipper – 6.5/10
Toiled hard in the engine room and was fearless coming off the line as usual. Did everything to give his side a platform to work off. Can hold his head high.
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa – 5.5
A night to forget for him. Why the Wallabies chose to throw to the tail of a lineout in the wind, again after last week’s issues, is a mystery. When on attack and with a man up, it was not the right option and a player of his experience should have known that.
3. Allan Alaalatoa – 6
Like his fellow prop, he worked tirelessly to give his side a platform to work off and didn’t let his side down.
4. Darcy Swain – 5.5
Wasn’t as influential as last week and got caught out in defence by an Aaron Smith snipe. Notch this one up to learning.
The All Blacks have opened the 2021 Rugby Championship with a second successive victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park to lock the Bledisloe Cup away for a 19th straight year. #AllBlacks #Wallabies #BledisloeCup #NZLvAUS #RugbyChampionshiphttps://t.co/ubbgdb9XLw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2021
5. Matt Philip – 6.5
Worked hard in the tight and caused the All Blacks some issues at the lineout. Brought some much-needed controlled aggression and appears to have done enough to retain his place in the starting XV.
6. Lachlan Swinton – 6.5
Was aggressive and enthusiastic as expected and did his job as a ball runner one to two passes wide of the ruck. His performance tonight was controlled and he didn’t let his side down with silly penalties as some had feared.
7. Michael Hooper – 7.5
Another superb performance by the Wallabies skipper. Despite being on the losing side, he was the best back-rower on the park. Just needs to keep turning up and driving this young Wallabies side around the park.
8. Rob Valetini – 7
A really strong performance by Valetini and although he may not have the ball skills of Harry Wilson, he is fearsome into the contact and caused the All Blacks issues every time he carried. One of Australia’s best tonight.
9. Tate McDermott – 8
A brilliant performance and was a threat to the All Blacks all night, be it at the base of the scrum, recycling the ball, and also as a support player. He will be marked up even closer moving forward as he made a statement tonight about the player he is going to be for Australia.
10. Noah Lolesio – 4.5
Obviously talented but his option taking and understanding of game management is lacking. After the intercept try of last week, he should not have even thought of throwing a cut out pass this week. But he did! He appears to be rushing to a result, as opposed to trusting a process of breaking a team down when the opportunity was there. His exit kick to Richie Mo’unga was dreadful. A Premier Grade Club player wouldn’t have made that error and it’s an option a Wallabies No 10 in a Bledisloe simply should not have made.
11. Marika Koroibete – 6.5
Really looked to impose himself on the game which was encouraging and required. Would have liked to have seen him get some ball in space more often.
12. Matt To’omua – 5
A really poor performance from such an experienced player. Why would he have thrown that cut-out pass, especially after the intercept try to open the scoring had shown the All Blacks wingers position themselves up the park in such scenarios. The space was behind – it was always behind – but he failed to exploit that and it cost the Wallabies dearly.
13. Hunter Paisami – 5
Not his best performance. When running down the left edge, carried the ball in the right hand so close to the line indicated he may not have the requisite skillset or wasn’t mentally alert on this occasion as to how to maintain a momentum play as all he did was essentially turn over possession. Has better rugby in him.
14. Andrew Kellaway – 7
Scored two tries for his side that will be memorable for him in an otherwise forgettable night. Has done enough to retain selection.
15. Tom Banks – 6
Had some good touches of the ball and showed again the ‘X Factor’ in attack he can bring, but wasn’t a real presence in defence. Not that should all be blamed on him as collectively it was an abysmal defensive effort in the second half.
'They made that mistake again twice … they haven’t adjusted'#RugbyChampionship #BledisloeCup https://t.co/vP5UrmJi0X
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 14, 2021
Reserves:
16. Jordan Uelese – 5
Didn’t bring the impact desired and was part of a scrum going backwards.
17. Scott Sio – 5
Has been a wonderful servant to Australian rugby but didn’t really bring much impact.
18. Taniela Tupou – 6
Had some quality touches with the ball but part of a bench that got outworked and out enthused.
19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto – 5.5
Looked to impose himself but the game was gone.
20. Harry Wilson – 6.5
Looked dangerous and attracted numerous defenders when in possession.
21. Nic White – 6
Had some nice touches and looked to keep his side busy and up-tempo as required by a finishing 9.
22. Len Ikitau – N/A
Didn’t see enough
23. Reece Hodge – N/A
Didn’t see enough.
Comments on RugbyPass
In 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 getitng 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.
5 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.
6 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
5 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.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
54 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.
6 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to comments