Wallabies player ratings vs Fiji | Rugby World Cup 2023
Australia’s Rugby World Cup campaign hangs in the balance after losing to Fiji for the first time since 1954 on Sunday evening. The Wallabies were beaten 22-15 in Saint-Etienne.
The Wallabies scored the first try of the Test through wing Mark Nawaqanitawase, but the vibrant crowd spurred the Flying Fijians on to a historic comeback victory.
Eddie Jones’ Wallabies have won just one of seven Tests this year and will need to win their final two pool games if they have any chance of progressing to the knockout rounds.
- Ben Donaldson – 4.5/10
Ben Donaldson was a bit of an unknown going into the Rugby World Cup. With just three Tests to his name, including just a single appearance under coach Jones, fans around the world didn’t know too much about the Western Force recruit. But that all changed last week.
Donaldson walked away with Player of the Match honours following a sensational display against Georgia at Stade de Frane. The fullback finished with two tries and was otherwise sensational both off the kicking tee and around the park.
But unfortunately for the Wallabies, Donaldson didn’t come close to replicating those heroics against the Flying Fijians. The playmaker didn’t run the ball once during a quiet first term and finished with a pair of tackles as well. Donaldson’s night didn’t really improve after the break, either.
Let’s start with the good. Following a brilliant Nic White 50/22, Nawaqanitawase showcased his brilliant rugby IQ with a clever one-two with Samu Kerevi off a quick lineout. Nawaqanitawase ultimately reaped the rewards and scored the Wallabies’ opening try of the Test.
But the rest of the Test was far from glamorous – and sometimes that’s the life of a winger. The ball came Nawaqanitawase’s way a couple of times during the second term, but it was nothing memorable or overly impactful.
- Jordan Petaia – 5.5
Centre Jordan Petaia is an essential member of this Wallabies backline. The Queenslander has finally found a home at Test level in that No. 13 jersey, and even though the result didn’t go their way, Petaia showed why on Sunday. Petaia ran the ball for more than 20 metres and made seven tackles – both stats were among the best out of the Wallabies’ backs.
- Samu Kerevi – 6.5
Samu Kervei was one of the Wallabies’ best on an otherwise difficult night. Kerevi linked up with wing Mark Nawaqanitawase for a quick-thinking try assist during the first half – but that’s as good as it got for the Wallabies.
Kerevi made a brilliant covering tackle on former NRL wing Semi Radradra, and was otherwise a work-horse on both sides of the ball. The inside centre carried the ball eight times for more than 30 metres and made six tackles too. Not bad for a player who only recently returned from injury.
- Marika Koroibete – 5
Wing Marika Koroibete showed glimpses of promise but was far from his best against a passionate Flying Fijians outfit. Koroibete ran for a team-high 55 metres from eight carries and also made some big shots in defence. But those attacking opportunities didn’t come close to the try line, and that’s the main criterion for a winger.
- Carter Gordon – 2
Carter Gordon’s tough induction to Test rugby continued in this Test with the young Wallaby having a truly forgettable night in Saint-Etienne. The flyhalf was hit into next week after being caught on the wrong end of a big tackle early on, and things only got worse from there.
With the 30-minute mark rapidly approaching, Gordon’s stats weren’t pleasant reading. Gordon, 22, had conceded three turnovers and missed both of his two tackle attempts. The flyhalf knocked the ball on again before the half was over, too.
Early in the second half, a mix-up with teammate Nic White saw Fiji reel in a kick for a decisive try. As the Wallabies made their way back to the try line, the young first five lent down to fix up his socks – it just wasn’t his night. Gordon was replaced early in the second half.
- Nic White – 4
Back in the starting side in the absence of Tate McDermott, Nic White struggled to assert himself. The Wallabies’ forwards were on the back foot for long periods, and that makes the life of a halfback pretty difficult.
White kicked the ball out on the full during the first term, but made amends shortly after with a brilliant 50/22. That kick led to Mark Nawaqanitawase’s try with the wing catching the Flying Fijians off-guard. The scrum-half was replaced just before the 60-minute mark with Issak Fines-Leleiwasa looking significantly better during his cameo.
- Angus Bell – 6
Young Angus Bell has come a long way in the space of about two months. At the beginning of Eddie Jones’ new dawn with the Wallabies, Bell was an understudy behind some more fancied props – but not anymore. Bell is verging on the edge of world-class status.
But Bell still has a little bit of a way to go. The loosehead wasn’t at his best against the Flying Fijians, but did manage to impress in sharp bursts around the field. Bell started the Test with an eye-catching carry inside the opening few minutes, but was otherwise kept quiet by a physical Fijian pack during the opening 40.
Fiji controlled the scrum battle, and that has to be reflected in Bell’s rating. The Wallabies didn’t concede any penalties at the scrum during the first term, but their opponents certainly had them on the back foot. Things improved for Bell after the break, although only slightly. The prop put in an incredible shift that ran almost the entire duration of the Test – he was replaced with just two minutes to play.
- Dave Porecki – 6
The Wallabies were forced in a reshuffle ahead of this Test with captain Will Skelton a last-minute withdrawal due to a niggly calf injury. Australia didn’t change into battle behind their towering skipper, and instead had to turn to a new man for guidance.
Hooker Dave Porecki became the Wallabies’ sixth captain in seven Tests at Saint-Etienne. When the warmups finished, a stern-looking Porecki led the Wallabies down the tunnel ahead of this decisive Rugby World Cup pool clash.
There’s no denying that Fiji were the better side during the opening 40, but Porecki was still able to lead by example. Not only was the captain solid at the set piece, but Porecki also finished the half with the equal second-most tackles out of any Australian player. No carries, though. Porecki was replaced just before the 60-minute mark.
- James Slipper – 4
Former Wallabies captain James Slipper appeared to go down with an injury during the first half, and never really seemed to recover from that. Whether it’s a niggly injury or quite possibly just an off night from the veteran remains to be made clear. Slipper carried the ball a couple of times and made some solid tackles, but failed to make an impact for the majority of the first half.
As the teams made their way towards the tunnel at the break, Slipper was seen moving at a snail’s pace towards the sideline while looking down at the ground. That seemed to sum up the Wallabies’ first half with some of the other forwards lingering behind.
- Nick Frost – 6.5
Nick Frost was everywhere during the first half in particular. The lock got stuck in on both sides of the ball, but brought a lot to the tam that can’t be defined by available stats. Frost was hitting breakdown after breakdown; just doing whatever he could to support his teammates into contact. The work rate that h showed was admirable in the face of defeat.
Frost also won two lineouts against the throw in the space of about one minute just before the half-time break. With no captain Skelton in the team, Frost really stepped up at times – even if the result didn’t fall their way.
- Richie Arnold – 4
Other than a charge down early in the second half, there’s really not a lot to say about Richi Arnold’s performance. The Toulouse lock made a handful of tackles and carried the ball for not many metres. Arnold gave away a penalty with about 17 minutes to play and was replaced by Matt Philip shortly after.
- Tom Hooper – 5
Tom Hooper has been impressive over the last month or so in Wallaby gold, but it didn’t quite click for the young blindside flanker against Fiji. Other than a few decent carries, Hooper went missing for long stretches of this Test.
- Fraser McReight – 6
Fraser McReight wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t good either – the flanker was somewhere in between. The Queenslander had made the equal-most tackles out of any Wallaby by the time he was replaced, but was otherwise kept quiet around the park.
- Rob Valetini – 7
No. 8 Rob Valetini was impossible to miss whenever he got his hands on the ball. The backrower charged at the wall of Fijian jerseys with purpose, intent and fury – and Valetini ended up running for more than 30 metres. But if you’ve read this far, you’ll see that there’s a common theme: players went missing, and Valetini was no exception.
But let’s be positive. Valetini was the first Australian player to reach double digits for tackles made, and also let the way in attack for the entire team. It’s been said before and it’ll be said again: the Wallabies would be a very different team without Rob Valetini.
Finishers
- Jordan Uelese – 5
- Blake Schoupp – N/A – Was only on for two minutes.
- Zane Nonggorr – 4
- Matt Philip – 4
- Rob Leota – N/A
- Issak Fines-Leleiwasa – 5.5 – Brought plenty of energy and pace to the Test.
- Lalakai Foketi – N/A
- Suliasi Vunivalu – 5.5 – On for Carter Gordon about 10 minutes into the second half. Scored a try late in the piece which gave the Wallabies a glimmer of hope
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe 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?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 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!
5 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 …
33 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
4 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.
5 Go to comments