Late last week we announced our 2013 GAGR Wallaby Player of the British & Irish Lions Series. We now turn our attention to the Rugby Championship. Oh and the ‘taint’ of the rugby season being that third Test against the All Blacks.
It taint the Rugby Championship and it taint the Spring Tour, but I am chucking it here on a decision based on geographic proximity if nothing else.
Remembering these are the top three players as determined by accumulating all the votes our forum members give after every Wallaby Test. In this year’s Rugby Championship, new coach Ewen McKenzie took the opportunity to blood no fewer than eight debutants.
Would it be one of these rookies who would stand up and make a name of himself? Would Mowen and co. continue on their form from the Lions series? Let’s get to it and unveil our 2014 GAGR Wallaby Player of the Rugby Championship (plus one):
Match One: v. New Zealand @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (17 August)
Australia: Jesse Mogg. Israel Folau. Adam Ashley-Cooper. Christian Leali’ifano. James O’Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Hugh McMeniman, James Horwill [C], Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw [C], Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retalick, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty.
New Zealand 47 (Ben Smith 3, Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith tries; Aaron Cruden try, 3 con, 3 pg; Beauden Barrett con) defeated Australia 29 (Will Genia, James O’Connor tries; Christian Leali’ifano 2 con, 5 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Michael Hooper
2 – Adam Ashley-Cooper
1 – Christian Leali’ifano
Match Two: v. New Zealand @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington (24 August)
Australia: Jesse Mogg. Israel Folau. Adam Ashley-Cooper. Christian Leali’ifano. James O’Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill [C], Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw [C], Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retalick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Dan Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau.
New Zealand 27 (Ben Smith 2 tries; Tom Talor con, 4 pg; Israel Dagg pg) defeated Australia 16 (Israel Folau try; Christian Leali’ifano con, 3 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Scott Fardy
2 – Michael Hooper
1 – Christian Leali’ifano
Match Three: v. South Africa @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7 September)
Australia: Israel Folau, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper. Christian Leali’ifano, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper, Will Genia [C], Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Ben Alexander, Ben McCalman, Liam Gill, Nic White, Matt Toomua.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Jj Engelbrecht, Jean De Villiers [C], Willie Le Roux, Morne Steyne, Ruan Pienaar, Duane Vermuelen, Willen Alberts, Francois Louw, Flip Van Der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismarck Du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Guthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Jano Vermaak, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
South Africa 38 (Coenie Oosthuizen, Jean De Villiers, Zane Kirchner, Willie Le Roux tries; Morne Steyn 3 con, 4 pg) defeated Australia 12 (Christian Leali’ifano 4 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Scott Fardy
2 – James Slipper
1 – Christian Leali’ifano
Match Four: v. Argentina @ Paterson’s Stadium, Perth (14 September)
Australia: Israel Folau, James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper. Christian Leali’ifano, Nick Cummins, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Ben Mowen [C], Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Kane Douglas, Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Toomua.
Argentina: Juan Martin Hernandez, Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff, Nicholas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Lobbe [C], Julio Farias Cabello, Manuel Carizza, Juan Figallo, Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza. Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, Nahuel Lobo, Mariano Galarza, Martin Landajo, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Australia 14 (Israel Folau try; Christian Leali’ifano 3 pg) defeated Argentina 13 (Juan Manuel Leguizamon try; Nicholas Sanchez con, 2 pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Scott Fardy
2 – Nic White
1 – Christian Leali’ifano
Match Five: v. South Africa @ Newlands Stadium, Cape Town (28 September)
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill [C], Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Toomua, Will Genia, Chris Feauai-Sautai
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Bryan Habana, Jj Engelbrecht, Jean De Villiers [C], Willie Le Roux, Morne Steyne, Fourie du Preez, Duane Vermuelen, Willen Alberts, Francois Louw, Flip Van Der Merwe, Eben Etzebeth, Jannie Du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Bismarck Du Plessis, Guthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Jano Vermaak, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
South Africa 28 (Adriaan Strauss, Zane Kirchner, Willie Le Roux tries; Morne Steyn 2 con, 3 pg) defeated Australia 8 (Chris Feauai-Sautia try; Christian Lealiifano pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Quade Cooper
2 – Scott Fardy
1 – Adam Ashley-Cooper
Match Six: v. Argentina @ Estadio Gigante de Arroyito, Rosario (5 October)
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Joe Tomane, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill [C], Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Ben McCalman, Sitaleki Timani, Matt Toomua. Nic White, Bernard Foley.
Argentina: Juan Martin Hernandez, Horacio Agulla, Marceo Bosch, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff, Nicholas Sanchez, Martin Landajo, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Lobbe [C], Julio Farias Cabello, Patricop Albacete, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Eusebio Guinazu, Marcos Ayerza. Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Matias Diaz, Manuel Carizza, Benjamin Macome, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Australia 54 (Israel Folau 3, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Joe Tomane, Benn Robinson tries; Bernard Foley try, 2 con; Quade Cooper con, pg; Christian Leali’ifano 2 con, 2 pg) defeated Argentina 17 (Marcelo Bosch, Martin Landajo tries; Nicholas Sanchez 2 con, pg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Scott Fardy
2 – Will Genia
1 – Joe Tomane
Match Seven: v. New Zealand @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (19 October)
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Peter Betham, Quade Cooper, Will Genia, Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen, James Horwill [C], Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Replacements: Saia Fainga’a, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Bernard Foley, David Dennis.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Ben Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read [C], Sam Cane, Liam Meesam, Sam Whitelock, Jeremy Thrush, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Replacements: Dan Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Brodie Retalick, Steven Lautau, Beauden Barrett, Tom Taylor.
New Zealand 41 (Julian Savea, Sam Cane, Kieran Read tries; Aaron Cruden try, 3 con, 4 pg; Beauden Barrett pg) defeated Australia 33 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Tevita Kuridrani tries; Quade Cooper 3 con, 3 pg, dg)
G&GR Points:
3 – Quade Cooper
2 – Tevita Kuridrani
1 – Stephen Moore
It doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to make any grand deductions from that to see that Ben Mowen was unable to sustain his strong scoring from the Lions Series. In fact it was yet another rookie back rower who dominated the count. With no fewer than four ‘GAGR Player of the Match’ awards to his credit, Scott Fardy takes this prize with ease.
TOTAL
As we move forward to the final phase of the season, the Spring Tour, Fardy’s overall lead looks unassailable. Surely he won’t be beaten? Surely there’s no one else who can come from the clouds and surpass him? Perhaps not a back rower? Perhaps a back? A much maligned back who’s form in the last few of these games is notable? Surely not!
We’ll be back tomorrow with the next instalment as well as announcing the 2014 Green and Gold Rugby Wallaby Player of the Year.
