Wallabies player ratings vs Ireland | Quilter Nations Series 2025

Australia-born fullback Mack Hansen received Player of the Match honours after starring in Ireland’s 46-19 Quilter Nations Series win over the Wallabies in Dublin.

Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight scored a try each as the Wallabies made it a five-point game at the break, but it was one-way traffic during a dominant second half from the Irish.

The Wallabies have won two of their last nine Tests, with one more chance to bounce back next weekend against France in Saint-Denis, in their final match of a 15-game season.

Here’s how the Wallabies rated.

1. Angus Bell – 6/10
Bell always works hard in the Wallabies jersey and this performance was no different. The front-rower enjoyed some good moments in attack, defence and around the breakdown, while also contributing to a fairly stable Wallabies scrum. After running the ball three times and making seven tackles, Bell was replaced after 53 minutes

2. Matt Faessler – 5
The Wallabies’ lineout seemed to be a strength throughout the opening half hour, but the set-piece began to unravel on either side of the break. Faessler had throws picked off in the 35th and 42nd minutes, as Ireland remained in control of the match’s momentum. To his credit, Faessler was one of Australia’s more active players in both attack and defence before being replaced during the second term.

3. Allan Alaalatoa – 5
A lot of Bell’s performance summary applies to Alaalatoa, with the tighthead prop making five tackles and carrying the ball a few times in a 60-minute shift. Australia’s scrum was better with someone of Alaalatoa’s calibre on the park. It was an average-to-good performance from Alaalatoa, who did his job without standing out too much.

4. Jeremy Williams – 5
Williams has featured in all of the Wallabies’ 14 Tests so far in 2025, with the second-rower named to start for the fourth appearance in a row. Whether or not fatigue is a factor for the Wallabies after a mammoth international season is for the coaches to ponder, but Williams wasn’t able to fire in a game-changing way against the Irish. The lock registered one lineout take during the first term, before finishing with two carries and four tackles.

5. Tom Hooper – 7.5
Hooper had only started other Tests at lock in 2025 before running out onto the field at the Aviva Stadium. The Exeter Chiefs forward finished with the most carries and tackles out of any Wallaby, having fought tirelessly to make some kind of an impact. Four months on from his Player of the Match performance against the British & Irish Lions in Sydney, Hooper was certainly one of Australia’s best yet again.

6. Rob Valetini – 7
‘Bobby V’ had the most carries out of any player and had produced a game-high stops in defence by the 25th minute. It was a promising start to the match from Valetini, who gave it absolutely everything against the Irish. The two-time John Eales Medallist finished as one of Australia’s best on both sides of the ball, reaching double digits for tackles completed during a little over 60 minutes on the park.

7. Fraser McReight – 6.5
Fraser McReight has been a shining light for the Wallabies even when results haven’t gone their way in recent weeks. There were shades of that yet again against the Irish, with the openside flanker menacing the Irish breakdown, but failing to get the same level of poaching purchase over the ball. McReight won one turnover during the first half. 

The 26-year-old’s crowning moment across the 80 minutes was a decisive score just before the break, as the Wallabies reduced the deficit to just five points. While McReight was kept unusually quiet at times, the flanker still showcased shades of supreme quality against a world-class Irish outfit.

8. Harry Wilson (c) – 6
Wilson led by example as a top-five Wallaby for both tackles made and carries, having been made to work for every metre beyond the gain line – averaging about 2.7 metres per carry. With a taxing international season almost at an end, the Wallabies skipper was bested by a world-renowned Irish backrow.

9. Jake Gordon – 5.5
This was Gordon’s third consecutive start alongside a different halves partner, having combined with Tane Edmed and Jake Gordon in recent weeks. The scrum-half was able to provide quick ball in attack, but some box kicks drifted slightly too far for teammates to chase.

10. James O’Connor – 6
James O’Connor was called into the Wallabies squad after last weekend’s defeat to Italy, and the experienced playmaker was tasked with steering the side against Ireland. Named at fly-half in place of Carter Gordon, the 35-year-old didn’t overplay his hand – guiding the team around the park with simple and composed rugby.

Ireland fly-half Sam Prendergast put a good shot on O’Connor inside the opening 10 minutes, forcing a knock-on, which was one of the No. 10’s early errors. But the Leicester Tigers pivot added invaluable experience to this side, helping the Wallabies settle after Ireland’s red-hot start to the contest.

11. Harry Potter – 6
Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney said it best during the second half, mentioning that it’d been a mixed performance from Potter. The Wallabies wing had the most carry metres out of any player by the 60-minute mark, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Potter made some errors but also recorded the most number of tackles out of any Australian back by the hour mark.

12. Len Ikitau – 6
It didn’t take the John Eales Medallist long to make an impact against the Irish. Ikitau marked his highly anticipated return to the Test arena with a try in the 17th minute, beating a Sam Prendergast tackle attempt close to the line. Ireland had been leading 14-0 before that score, making it an utterly necessary try as the Wallabies’ faithful dared to dream of a comeback.

That was a clear highlight from Ikitau’s performance. The midfielder failed to stand out during the next 60 minutes, finishing mid-table for carries and only making a couple of tackles in the opening hour of the contest.

13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – 4
Rugby Australia’s Rookie of the Year won more turnovers than anyone else, but the centre wasn’t able to make a telling impact other than that. Suaalii was quiet in attack with seven carries, and the dual international finished 41st out of 43 players for tackles completed. There aren’t really any highlights or lowlights to speak of, for the most part, Suaalii just wasn’t able to get involved during a tough night for the Wallabies.

14. Filipo Daugunu – 5
Daugunu only had a handful of opportunities to attack with the ball, and while the right winger proved hard ot bring down initially, Ireland’s defensive wall wasn’t troubled too much. The 30-year-old had run the ball five times for 22 metres before leaving the match for a HIA around the hour mark. While Daugunu returned, the Wallaby wasn’t presented with any opportunities to attack in space.

15. Max Jorgensen – 5
It was a difficult start to the Test for the Wallabies fullback, who had a moment to forget while trying to gather a loose ball. Jorgensen spilled it close to Australia’s try line after a hoofing punt downfield from Sam Prendergast, and Mack Hansen reaped the rewards – the Australia-born fullback crossing near the sticks soon after. 

Jorgensen produced an important defensive effort in the 27th minute, beating James Lowe to a grubber that very well could’ve led to another Irish try, but the 21-year-old was driven back into the in-goal. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, but after such a promising start ot the international season on the wing, ‘Jorgo’ couldn’t quite hit those same heights out the back with three turnovers in the first half alone.

Replacements

16. Billy Pollard – 5
17. Tom Robertson – 4
18. Zane Nonggorr – 4
19. Nick Frost – 4 – shown a yellow card.
20. Carlo Tizzano – 6
21. Ryan Lonergan – 5
22. Tane Edmed – 5.5
23. Andrew Kellaway – 5