This, surprisingly, was a hard game to rate. Nobody had a shocker, lots of players went really well. Do you give Haylett-Petty a 9 despite his mistakes? How many moments of brilliance wipe out a dud Foley clearance or a missed conversion? We were totally dominant in the game, but since we wasted about 50 points through errors at the final moment, should all players get their score discounted?
So, I’ve gone with these – feel free to disagree below.
[one_third last=”no”]
1. Scott Sio
Some great runs, especially in the first half. Scrum penalty against him in the second half. Replaced at the 67 minute mark. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
2. Stephen Moore
Moore was very good this game, plenty of barging runs, lineout worked well. Needed to be replaced earlier due to fatigue. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
3. Sekope Kepu
Good in the scrum, dynamic on attack and solid on defence, especially in the first half. Loses a point for another no-arms cleanout that conceded a penalty. 6[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
4. Rory Arnold
A great locks game. Solid in the lineout and made some huge charges in the open. Pass to release Foley for the try was sensational. 8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
5. Adam Coleman
Was everywhere. Took the most lineouts, lost none. Smashed people in tackles. Ran powerfully, always making metres in contact. Got at least one counter-ruck turnover. Fed the last pass to Foley for his try.9- G&GR MOM[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
6. David Pocock
Usual fine work at the breakdown, hit a lot of rucks. Concussed at the end of the first half and was having so much fun he didn’t want to come off. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
7. Michael Hooper
Typical Hooper performance, on a normal day he would have been in the running for MOM, but today was not normal as he was just another contributor. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
8. Lopeti Timani
Two knock-ons were the only blemish in a great performance. Always made the advantage line and tackled ferociously. Has brought a new dimension to the Wallaby play. 8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
9. Nick Phipps
Quick getting to the ruck and fast releasing the ball to Foley. A good day at the office because his passes hit the spot. One forward pass spoilt the record. Box kicked well (and that was unexpected) and hit one ruck perfectly when we were caught short. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
10. Bernard Foley
The commentators MOM for his outstanding attack. Some of his running and passing was sublime. Scored a great team try to snuff out the Welsh comeback. Would have been my first ever 10 but has to be marked back for his dropped field catch and missed conversions (close but not between). 8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
11. Henry Speight
Had one of those games where everyone else was doing brilliant things and he couldn’t get a touch. Defended well. 6[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
12. Reece Hodge
Best game for the Wallabies. Made his tackles hurt, missed one late in the second half. One huge touch finder took us 22 to 22. His running to gaps was just right, scored a lovely try in which he handled twice. We might have found our 12 till Kurtley recovers. 9[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
13. Tevita Kuridrani
Monstered the Welsh midfield on attack and defence. Made metres over the gain line every time he touched it. I didn’t see one error. Scored a lovely try. 9[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
14. Dane Haylett-Petty
Aerially he was superb taking high balls at will. Running lines were great and he was always threatening. Made one real try-saving tackle and plenty of others. But he bombed a certain try by dropping the pass, over-kicked the pass to Folau early, grubbered badly to turn it over late in the second half. Scored a great intercept try to bank the game. 8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
15. Israel Folau
Made big metres every time he touched the ball. Ran kick receipts back this week and looked much better for it. He was always a threat and made room for others by attracting the defence. Out of position for the Welsh try and made a bad turnover near the end that was nearly very expensive. 7[/one_third]
Finishers
[one_third last=”no”]
16. Tolu Latu
Came on for a few minutes, should have been more as Moore was pooped. One massive tight head scrum while he was on, is he the next TPN? 7 [/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
17. James Slipper
Came on for Sio at 67 minutes and looked a shadow of his former self. Gave away a scrum penalty but was part of a very impressive tight head scrum win later. 6[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
18. Alan Ala’alatoa
Came on at 62 minutes and went OK. One good run and mixed scrum work improved by tight head win 6[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
19. Rob Simmons
Came on for a few minutes but didn’t feature highly. No rating[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
20. Scott Fardy
Fardy came on at half time and was everywhere.He made several good runs, tackled everything that moved including a try-saver, hit rucks hard. Won a clean turnover where Joubers penalised him on suspicion. 9 [/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
21. Nick Frisby
Replaced Phipps at 67 minutes. and looked completely at home.Ruck work was nearly as quick as Phipps and made one absolutely brilliant try saving tackle in cover. 8[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
22. Quade Cooper
Replaced Foley at 76 minutes and looked very tidy, orchestrating the backline well. 7[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
23. Sefa Naivalu
Did he make it on? Was not visible. No rating[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
THE PATENTED G&GR RATINGS GUIDE:
10 – A legendary performance to go down in the history books
9 – Outstanding performance: Man of the match shoo-in
8 – Excellent all-round game
7 – Good game with a few sparkles
6 – Solid performance
5 – Average – ho hum
4 – Below par
3 – Had a bad game
2 – Tell your story walking pal
1 – A complete joke
Altitude Ratings – Wallabies v Springboks
