1. James Slipper
A game Slipper will probably want forgotten, mainly due to his efforts in the scrum, as he ended up conceding three penalties. Was OK else-ware, tackling at a good clip and trucked it up with only occasional success. Replaced after 64 minutes. 4
2. Tolu Latu
Took about 20 minutes to get into this game, making multiple errors early, including a slightly not straight line-out throw and a breakdown penalty that cost us three. He was able, however, to put it behind him and successfully turned around his starting debut with solid involvements from then on. Unlucky not to score his first try but the team got it and a throw-over-conversion. 7
3. Allan Alaalatoa
Very solid at the set-peice and a high work-rate. Kept trucking it up all night and secured the go forward required. Almost an error free performance reminiscent of an in-form Kepu. It would have taken a lot of guts to replace him with that game in the balance at 70 minutes. 7
4. Kane Douglas
A quiet game from Douggie, which is not a bad thing when the stats have you at a 13/13 tackle clip. However, didn’t offer the go forward of Coleman, or even Arnold for that matter. Was penalised for collapsing a maul in the first half and made way for Skelton with ten to play. 6
5. Rob Simmons
An incredible work-rate over the full 80 minutes saves Simmons from a glaring error and a few ineffectual runs. Ended up topping the team in runs (but not metres) and tackles, making an astonishing 17 of 19. This often allowed our pilfering back-row opportunities to steal the ball. The attacking and defending line-out also functioned well. 6
6. Scott Fardy
A bit of a mixed bag from Fardy, he was in the line-break footage for France’s 2nd try although both breaks weren’t due to his misreads, and the first break was his only missed tackle. He got through a lot of unnoticed work at the ruck and line-out, especially disrupting the opposition ball. His cover tackle putting the winger into touch was right out of the Dean Mumm highlight reel and he snared a Poey-esque clutch forced turnover at the 63 minute mark. He also seems to have fixed up his red-zone penalty problems. 6
7. David Pocock (c)
He was very strong on the ball which meant he gave away three penalties, however that was all worth it as it had little scoreboard effect. His handling and running game was on song and was only one of a couple of wallaby forwards to shed tackles. He also saved our bacon a bunch of times this game with a vital tackle on the French fullback at the 73 minute mark and at least two forced turnovers defending in our own 22, the latter, at the 76th minute mark helped secure the game. 8 – G&GR MOTM
8. Sean McMahon
The other forward to shed tackles, running more than double any other Wallaby forward in his 67 minutes. He had an uncharacteristic quiet first 20 minutes, however stepped up his involvements shortly after forcing two turnovers with his breakdown presence. 7
9. Will Genia (vc)
His early catch of a touch-line up-and-under set the tone of a great Genia game, or is it (Jenny-yah). Every aspect of his game was direct, confident and almost error free. Slowing the ball down when needed, quick tapping and speeding it up like he did in the couple of phases to put Foley over. His snipe to line-break ratio (1:1) suggests maybe he needs to throw a few more snipes into the mix next hit out, and maybe play 3 more minutes. 8
10. Bernard Foley
Foley (or Folly as my commentator liked to call him) had a good game and it was interesting to see him try and mix up some attacking kicking at the start of the game, only to shelve it and focus only on inside balls. Scoring an important try and kicking 4/5 off the tee in a game we won by 2 was very important. Missed an important penalty touch finder and was too easily beaten on the wing for my liking, one bad miss directly resulted in a French try. 7
11. Henry Speight
A busy game from Speight, solid and willing on both attack and defence, although not supported by team mates on several occasions in the first half. Still hasn’t got his timing quite right into contact, but apart from Morahan no Wallaby really did this game. 6
12. Kyle Godwin
Great debut! Looked to take a bit of time to get used to the pace of the game early, but adapted like a duck to water underplayed his hand perfectly early on and came into his own later in the game with some fantastic involvements. 12/12 tackles, 3 defenders beaten and a beautiful inside ball (the order of the day) to put his centre partner through the line. 7
13. Tevita Kuridrani
Another match winning try! That’s three for the Wallabies by my count. Talk about being resourceful with little sideline, one of the best finishes I’ve ever seen! A calm, experienced operator in the back-line was what was needed with all the relatively new players and last minute changes and he provided that as well as the second most run metres from outside centre. 8
14. Sefanaia Naivalu
A hard game to judge for Naivalu as the ball rarely found him, except for when he got a simultaneous tackle with the line at his mercy. Managed to bust tackles with his three runs and was trying to put a real sting in on defence, often to his own detriment, missing three tackles. Was lucky not to go to the lottery of the TMO with a late clean-out after the Wallabies had conceded a penalty. 5
15. Luke Morahan
Dangerous! His initial run was good and his second touch was even better. Ended up topping most of the attacking stats, with 66 run metres, two line-breaks and three tackles busted. Unlucky not to have a kick-try assist, and was possibly a little too unselfish early in the second half with the line a couple of metres away. 8
Finishers
16. Stephen Moore
On at 65 minutes, part of a shaky scrum that I thought was going to lose it for us. Great else-ware though, with a brilliant cover tackle when close to conceding at 76 minutes. 5
17. Scott Sio
On at 64 minutes, scrum was going well initially, but like Moore, part of the crumbling scrum at the end. 5
18. Tom Robertson
Probably should have been kept on the bench instead of being thrown in with ten to play with. The scrums weren’t being held up and a lottery for most of the game, his inclusion gave France the dominance that needed to prove they were the team going forward before the collapse. 3
19. Will Skelton
Played the last 9 minutes. Smashed some poor cheese-eater who didn’t have time to surrender, didn’t do much else, except give away a penalty. 5
20. Dean Mumm
Played the last 13 minutes fairly anonymously. Made one tackle, one run, one metre and one pass. 5
21. Nick Phipps
3 minutes, and no involvements. NA
22. Jono Lance
Unused replacement. NA
23. Taqele Naiyaravoro
Unused replacement. NA
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
Ratings – Les Bleus v Wallabies
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