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Wallabies player ratings vs France | Autumn Nations Series

By Jack O'Rourke
(Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

The Wallabies took on France in front of a boisterous Stade de France crowd.

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The visitors turned it on early with a full-length try to Foketi. The Wallabies discipline towards the end of the first half allowed the French to stay in touch by banking penalty points.

Les Blue dialed-up the pressure around the ruck and in the scrum, frustrating the Wallabies. Their rush defense caused a late turnover and France scored right on the stroke of halftime to take the lead.

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The Wallabies wrestled back the lead in the second half, with Jock Campbell scoring his first international try. It was a scene we have seen before, with the Wallabies playing to protect the lead late in the game.

The decision to sub Foley in the 71st minute for Hodge showed their hand, and it played into Frances with Penaud scoring in the 77th minute to win the game for France.

Here’s how the Wallabies rated:

1. James Slipper – 6.5/10

The veteran skipper had his hands full matching up against Uini Atonio at scrum time.

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2. Dave Porecki – 5

Went about his business at hooker, supporting his forwards in open play and performing his role at set piece. Was solid at lineout time.

3. Taneila Tupou – 6

Earned his first start of the tour, and was engaged in battle with Cyril Baille in the scrum. Ran short lineouts in contact to bust open the French defence.

4. Jed Holloway – 7

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Was very involved for the Wallabies in the maul and is becoming a workhorse on the side of the scrum for the Wallabies. Is quickly locking down that number six spot as his first position.

5. Nick Frost – 6

He is establishing himself at Wallabies level and he took this starting opportunity with both hands. Challenged the French at the lineout and brought some much-needed agression to the forward pack.

6. Caderyn Neville – 6

Was a defensive organiser at lineout and maul time, and disrupted France’s set-piece.

7. Michael Hooper – 7

Back in the side after a well-publicised break, he made the number seven jersey his own again. Was a nuisance at the breakdown and the Wallabies have missed his legendary work-rate.

8. Rob Valetini – 6.5

Put in a big shift around the park, working hard at set-piece and at the breakdown. struggled to make his usual impact in carries, with the French defence targeting him when he got the ball in his hands.

9. Nic White – 6

Was pressured at the breakdown by the French forwards, affecting his ball distribution to his backline at times. substituted in the 60th minute.

10. Bernard Foley – 6.5

As the veteran in the backline, he became chief playmaker, choosing lines to run and when to distribute to his backline. Found fractures in the French backline and put his backs through holes by attracting opposition defenders. Pulled from the action in the 71st minute.

11. Tom Wright – 7

Showed his exceptional pace in the 17th minute by streaking down the wing to set up a full-field try to open the Wallabies. Comfortable under the highball but fell off some tackles late in the game.

12. Lalakai Foketi – 6

Was on the receiving end of a full-field effort from the Wallabies to put the Wallabies in front in the 17th minute. Was solid in defence and organised the Wallabies midfield. Was injured and replaced by Paisami in the 24th minute.

13. Len Ikitau – 7.5

Ikitau is quickly establishing himself as Australia’s premiere outside centre. Was strong with the ball in hand, getting over the advantage line when the Wallabies needed it most. What was impressive from the young centre was his kicking options, choosing the right moments to pin the opposition back in their own territory.

14. Andrew Kellaway – 6

Shifted to the wing and was probing the French defence all night. Worked with his fellow back three to cover in defence and was solid under the highball.

15. Jock Campbell – 6.5

In his first start at fullback, he chose his moments well to inject himself into the action and support his backline. Scored in the 56th minute for his first international try. Missed a crucial tackle in the lead up to Penaud’s try

Replacements:

16. Folau Fainga’a – 5

Entered in the 52nd minute. His first throw of the match was forgettable, turning it over to the French. Made an impact in open play by playing link-man between his fellow forwards. Made a crucial error in the throw in the 78th minute.

17. Matt Gibbon – N/A

Entered in the 77th minute to add some energy in the scrum.

18. Tom Robertson – N/A

Entered in the 70th minute to shore up the scrum in the final stages of the match.

19. Will Skelton – 5

The man-mountain entered the fray in the 53rd minute to combat the impact of Taofifenua. Was loose with ball placement in a number of his crash balls. The jury is still out on if he can replicate his club form at international level.

20. Pete Samu – N/A

Came on in the 70th minute looking to make an impact but had limited opportunities.

21. Jake Gordon – 5.5

Took the reins from White in the second half. Has a different pace and flow from the back of the ruck, setting the Wallabies in attack before pulling the trigger on the backline. Made some important turnovers in broken play to give the Wallabies a chance

22. Hunter Paisami – 6.5

Entered the action early in the first half, replacing Foketi. His defence in the middle channel was excellent.

23. Reece Hodge – 4

Injected into the action in the 71st minute at flyhalf. It was a conservative move by the Wallabies, opting to rely on Hodge’s massive boot to play for territory. His first attempt at a penalty goal was successful. His territiory-finding handed the ball back for the French to score in the 77th minute.

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J
Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

15 Go to comments
A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

15 Go to comments
T
Trevor 9 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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