Wallabies player ratings vs Argentina | The Rugby Championship
The Wallabies have opened their 2022 Rugby Championship account with a hard fought 41-26 victory over Los Pumas in Mendoza today.
Dave Rennie’s men had to come from behind after an ill-disciplined and disjointed first half that was further compounded by a spirited Argentine outfit who came to play up front physical rugby courtesy of their new Australian coach Michael Cheika.
The locals exposed the Australian’s early yet stand in skipper James Slipper rallied his troops who lifted their intensity in the contact zones, adjusted their discipline and simply built a wave of momentum that the Argentinian’s couldn’t abate.
This is how the Wallabies rated today:
1. James Slipper – 7/10
Was dominant in the set piece and did his job as reliably as ever in the contact zones. What impressed was the way he stepped in for skipper Michael Hooper and lead the side to what in the end was a solid win for the Australians.
2. Folau Fainga’a – 7.5
One of his better test matches. Solid in the set piece and the lineout worked efficiently today. He played with the aggression and intensity that was a message to the selectors that the injured Dave Porecki when fit simply wont walk back into the starting side.
3. Allan Alaalatoa – 6
Didn’t have it his own way in the scrum and was penalised a couple of times for offences in that facet of play. This coupled with failing to plug a gap in the defensive line that allowed Pablo Matera to score didn’t bode well for him. However, he did, as always exhausted himself in general play.
4. Darcy Swain – 7
An intelligent performance. His time out after being suspended during the English series appears to have been time well spent. He didn’t get sucked into any niggle and did the little things well.
5. Matt Philip – 7
A bit of an anonymous performance which isn’t a bad thing. Means he was doing the grunt work required.
6. Jed Holloway – 7.5
A wonderful debut for him. Was solid in the lineout and desperately unlucky to be penalised after poaching a Pumas throw at the front. And furthermore, came desperately close to scoring after trailing on the inside after the Wallabies made a surge down the right flank. Looks more than comfortable at test level.
7. Fraser McReight – 8
An exhaustive defensive performance. In a match where the hosts appeared to be dominant in the breakdown he never ceased his efforts and as the match went on his influence also became apparent. Was also influential in attack down the short side and was rewarded with a try off a drive from the lineout.
8. Rob Valetini – 8
He was a handful for the Pumas today and outplayed Pablo Matera today. Numerous dominant carries coupled with a physical defensive performance ensured he was the player the locals didn’t want to run at, nor wanted running at them.
9. Nic White – 7.5
Bit of a shaky start after getting a kick charged down and also got himself into a bit of a verbal sparing match with referee Mike Adamson. For such an experienced player surely, he would understand there is only going to one winner in that dual. He appeared to calm-his-farm and went on to manage his side around the park very well.
10. Quade Cooper – 7
Was playing well before he appeared to sustain a serious ankle injury whilst pressing the Pumas line. He was brave in defence and the way he held up the ball that allowed space for Jordan Petaia to exploit was vintage Cooper. It’s a shame as we may not see that again until 2023.
11. Marika Koroibete – 7.5
Came alive in the second half as the Wallabies found a way to get himself into the game. He was exceptionally good under the high ball and was a standout for lifting the intensity and tempo of play in the second half. Appeared to have scored a try but was correctly disallowed after a forward pass, after he came off his wing for an inside pass, so structurally his timing could have been better.
12. Hunter Paisami – 7
A valuable performance. His lines in attack ensured the Pumas were often guessing. One infraction was he dropped one clean on attack but outside of that his passing game was on as was his defence.
13. Len Ikitau – 7.5
Akin to his centre partner he was very good today both sides of the ball. He went about his work quietly and efficiently and thoroughly deserved his late try.
14 Jordan Petaia – 7.5 – He was dangerous all day down the right flank. His try coming off that flank to work off a deep sitting Quade Cooper was class. Relieved he didn’t appear to pick up an injury and hope to see more of this during the Rugby Championship.
14. Jordan Petaia – 7.5
He was dangerous all day down the right flank. His try coming off that flank to work off a deep sitting Quade Cooper was class. Relieved he
didn’t appear to pick up an injury and hope to see more of this during the Rugby Championship.
15. Tom Wright – 6.5
Solid without being spectacular. Didn’t really find a way to influence the game, but perhaps the shift to the 15 jumper didn’t assist. But certainly, didn’t let his side down today.
Reserves
16. Lachlan Lonergan – 6.5 – Liked his cameo towards the end. There doesn’t appear to much of him but he stuck in defence and nailed his basics.
17. Matt Gibbon – 6 – Was solid on debut. More to come from him.
18. Taniela Tupou – 7 – Brought the impact required. His line running was dominant and as expected his scrummaging gave the Wallabies an edge.
19. Nick Frost – 7 – Thought he was going score when running a supporting line down the middle track as he is known to have a quick pair of heels but it wasn’t to be. Was very good in the lineout and industrious around the park. Brought the impact.
20. Rob Leota – N/A – on late.
21. Pete Samu – 6.5 – Mr Consistent. Came on, brought his experience and calmness that helped the Wallabies seal the win.
22. Jake Gordon – N/A – on late.
23. Reece Hodge – 7 – Came on for the injured Cooper and managed the role well. Contributed with a solid kicking game.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to comments