[one_third last=”no”]
1. Scott Sio
Part of a dominant scrum. Attacked well with 20 metres off 4 carries. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
2. Folau Fainga’a
Another solid performance. First choice hooker by far. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
3. Sekope Kepu
Part of dominant scrum, and did his duty with 9 tackles. Loyal servant but his age is catching up with him. Puffed & pulled off at half time. 5
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
4. Izack Rodda
Lineout functioned, and he stole 1 from the Argies. Made 33 metres, but in defence he only made 6/11 tackles. 6
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
5. Rory Arnold
Made 10/12 tackles, and was generally a beast around the field again. Lock of the week. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
Again showed some good work but between himself and Kepu the most disappointing forward. Maybe not his fault – many say he’s a lock not a 6. 5
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
7. Michael Hooper (c)
Did his thing as always, and did it well. Made 30 metres, 17/20 and got 2 turnovers – including a big screen pilfer. As captain, played no funny buggers and took the points. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
8. Isi Naisarani
Played well last week, but this week put his stamp on the game. Finally the Wallabies look like they have a #8. Made 64 metres – 12 more than Samu Kerevi. Imperious 9 – G&GR MOTM
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
9. Will Genia
Swapped in for Nic White this week in his Suncorp farewell. All over it this week. Passes on point, kept the pace up with 11 kicks, and was a lightning spark from the ruck. 8
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
10. Christian Leali’ifano
Fairytale story, and game back with an solid game. Attack and shape went sideways after he was mysteriously pulled off 50 mins in. Shoo-in for Perth. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
11. Marika Koroibete
Plays like some sort of non-giving-up-school-guy. Shoulder-charged the ground near a ruck such is his enthusiasm. Infectious. Also beat 6 defenders and made 77 metres. More of that please. 8
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
12. Samu Kerevi
Man of the match last week but against a looser opponent he wasn’t the focal point of the attack. Made 12 carries, 5 passes and 2 offloads. 7
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
13. Tevita Kuridrani
Suffering a bit playing next to Kerevi. Put in a solid defensive shift when the ball came to him in the shape of a ball-carrying Argentinian. 5
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
14. Reece Hodge
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
15. Kurtley Beale
Offered a genuine second playmaking threat, and showed it with his 28 metres, 12 passes and 4 kicks. Didn’t carve up as you thought he might have done in a game as open as this. 7
[/one_third]
Finishers
[one_third last=”no”]
16. Tolu Latu
Performed well in his 23 minute cameo, providing a breakdown threat second only to Pocock. Otherwise still aways away behind Fainga’a. 6
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
17. James Slipper
Thrown in early for Sio. An able replacement. 6
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
18. Taniela Tupou
Played a full half. Didn’t concede a stupid penalty! Didn’t concede any at all actually. Made 6/6 tackles. 6
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
19. Rob Simmons
Didn’t really do much, for the second week in a row. Mess of the last 30 minutes didn’t help his or anyone else’s case. 4
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
20. Luke Jones
Warmed up for 20 minutes, thrown on for 15. Gave away 2 penalties and didn’t do much else. 3
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]
21. Nic White
Came on and showed why the #9 and #21 will be shared by himself and Genia. 5
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
22. Matt Toomua
Poor performance. Undid Lilo’s great work. Attack and shape went completely out the window when he came on. 3
[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]
23. James O’Connor
Warmed up very conspicuously for 20 minutes, thrown on for 10. What the hell was that about? Don’t think he even touched the ball 5
[/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
Player Ratings – Australia vs Ireland
