1. Benn Robinson 8 – Fat Cat was outstanding last night.The scrum was solid and his work around the field was reminiscent of his Super 14 form, two pilfers confirm this.
2. Squeeky Moore 6 – Again the line-out wasn’t what it should be but Moore proved once again he is head and shoulders above TPN.One of the few Wallaby forwards to make an impact and dent the French defence.
3. Le Fuse 6 – Seemed to get the rough end of the pineapple by getting penalised at the scrum.Had one particularly inglorious moment when he head-planted right on the half-way line and got a mouthful of chalk.
4. Kev Horwill 4 –Hasn’t been able to replicate the form he showed in the Baa-Baa’ game and was fairly quite.On a night where the forward pack need ball runners in tight, he had little or no impact.
5. Nathan Sharpe 6 – Sharpe gets heaps of ball in attack but seems to do very little with it.His glaring lack of vision with a four on one overlap in the second half was disappointing but played the full game and let nothing through the middle.
6. Dean Mumm 6 – Played a very tight game that was focused on providing impact at the breakdown.The amount of penalties the Frogs gave away around this area proves he was pretty effective.Showed his versatility by moving to the second-row when Kev got dragged around the 60 min mark.
7. George Smith 9 – If only he’d have tried a chip and chase I’d have given him a 10!!
8 Richard Brown 8 – Answered the call by providing a ball running threat in the backrow and was generally busy all around the ground. He is still no Cliffy, but at least showed he can make a decent go of it if required. Some brutal defence which shortened up more than a few French forwards.
9. Luke Burgess 7 – Starting to play consistently well and no longer taking the wrong option. The French defence close the ruck was very good so he didn’t overplay his running game, that adjustment alone shows how far he has come since the Super 14.
10. Gits 6 – Not sure if he suffered from the lack of go-forward or quick ball, or was it the constant penalties the Frogs gave away whenever the Wallabies got phase play? No matter, kicked poorly out of hand but superbly for goal and the scored all the Wallaby points, but not at his best.
11. Drew Mitchell 7 – Missed out on scoring a try early on that would have been a cracker. On the positive side didn’t mess his hair up as he did in the Baa-Baa’s game while scoring.
12. Berrick Barnes 8 – Took more of a role in making things happen in attack as there was plenty of pressure on Gits. Tres Bon in defence.
13. Morty 4 – Not sure if it was the week off or the fact it fell to him to be the one to crease the French defence but he seemed to struggle dropping passes and generally looking half a step behind the play. Missed more than his fair share of tackles also.
14. Lachie Turner 7 – Played a great covering role helping AAC out at the back. His involvement in the only try of the game showed his class.
15. AAC 8– Had it not been for Smith’s performance he would have earned his second successive man-of-the-match in as many weeks. Is constantly involved from fullback and has learned the value of not using the mid-field bomb as an attacking option.
16. Ben Alexander 7 – Replaced Baxter early in the second half and was able to mix a good scrummanging performance with natural close quarter running. Something he was not able to do against the Italians.
17. TPN 5 – Not good, not bad. Only limited game time and opportunity.
18. David Pocock 7 – Came on toward the end of the game and snaffled two turnovers and upped the pace which is what you want from the bench.
19. Phil Waugh 7 – In baseball they would call him the closing pitcher, the bloke who comes on and shuts the other team out of the game. Waugh on the bench provides security, a bit like Gilchrist batting at number 7.
20. Josh Valentine 7 – Gets a seven for his ability to start an on-field push-and-shove fight rather than a off-field food-fight from the week previous.
| Player | Pos | Mins | Runs (m) | Tack | Off | Kick | T. Ass | L. Brk | Ruck | T/Ov |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benn Robinson | LHP | 80 | 3 (3m) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Stephen Moore | HOOK | 59 | 3 (11m) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Alastair Baxter | THP | 55 | 2 (6m) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| James Horwill | LCK1 | 61 | 2 (10m) | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Nathan Sharpe | LCK2 | 80 | 7 (20m) | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Dean Mumm | BSFL | 80 | 1 (3m) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| George Smith | OSFL | 80 | 4 (18m) | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Richard Brown | NUM8 | 71 | 7 (40m) | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Luke Burgess | HB | 71 | 8 (30m) | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Matt Giteau | FIV8 | 80 | 6 (52m) | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Drew Mitchell | LWNG | 80 | 5 (44m) | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Berrick Barnes | ICEN | 69 | 2 (30m) | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Stirling Mortlock | OCEN | 75 | 6 (61m) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Lachie Turner | RWNG | 80 | 7 (70m) | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Adam Ashley-Cooper | FBCK | 80 | 10 (89m) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Tatafu Polota-Nau | RHKR | 21 | 1 (4m) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Ben Alexander | RPRP | 26 | 1 (5m) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Phil Waugh | RLCK | 9 | 0 (0m) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Pocock | RFL | 19 | 1 (6m) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Josh Valentine | RHB | 9 | 2 (3m) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Ryan Cross | RBCK | 5 | 0 (0m) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| James O’Connor | RES1 | 11 | 1 (0m) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
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<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3921 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=3921">20 Comments
George, the two of us need look no more
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I’ll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You’ve got a friend in me
(you’ve got a friend in me)
Phil
I wonder if in tribute to the passing of the king of pop, the AB’s will do a collective moon-walk instead of the haka in the first Bledisloe?
Might be less ridiculous…
Nice work again Coatse,
I like your Bench ratings thought those opensides did well, would have given Val a 5 though, thought he was nothing compared to the burgwin.
I want to see Barnes back his pace once, he’s not slow, unless he does this he’ll never be my first choice anything. He was a monster in defense though.
I though Morty’s quiet game was due to Barnes, quite a destructive centre pairing now.
Think you’re being generous to Mumm, Baxter and Brown, a smidge too high for my liking. They all had the positives you pointed out though, just not enough impact that their replacements have in Palu, Elsom and Alexander.
I also think its Tuqiri’s turn, even if it is from the bench? no-one wants to see Cross in the wallabies, i think even he dislikes it.
I would have given Val a 5 but he must get some credit for doing something as subversive as starting a food fight in a hotel room.
A win for all of us who have bemoaned the lack of quality food the average room service menu offers.
I usually just bury my sub-standard club sandwich under the mattress, but at least he had the ‘presence’ (Robbie’s word not mine) to plaster it both on the wall and Quade’s mullet hair-cut.
Would have been good if they (val and jOc) took out the day old bread sticks in the fight at the end of that french test.
They specailise in food fights, ala masterchef.
Agreed on Cross. Oh for Diggers to be back in the ranks!
Good stuff Juan, really look forward to reading these.
It was my eldest’s first time at a Wallabies match live, and we had a blast. Nick-named the French fullback “softie”.
If (if) Rocky is fit for the first game, who’s gonna get dropped .. Phil the Orc or Pocock the slightly prettier Orc?
I think Waugh would be the one to get the chop as he does play at no. 6 when he comes on.
Seems a shame as I reckon he should be there when the tougher games of the Tri-nations roll around
Neither, Horwill. Mumm was heaps better at lock and everywhere else, and has been for the last couple now.
Overly generous to Mumm. A 4 or 5 in my book.
And I thought Pocock was way better off the bench than Waugh. Would have given Waugh maybe a 5 or 6.
Until Rocky is fit Mumm will have to do, he is as useless as tits on a bull come scrum time. Mumm was far more at home when shifted back to his familiar locking position.
Mumm seems fine as cover for lock or 6, but is definitely not an out and out back-rower.
Dissapointing on Saturday, along with a lack-luster Big Kev
Mowen or Chapman for the Tri-nations squad?
I say Chapman.
Deans wont pick either of them, he’ll probably pick Kimlin in 6…
Its not that i dont like Mumm decision making or ability, I just think he’s our most uninteresting player.
Deans is more likely to pick an illogical fringe player rather than a logical one. He’ll put beale or something in the squad if theres an injury to a prop and a prop if giteau or barnes go down.
I like his ability to coach, but his selections are questionable at best. It took AAC a whole year of test before he had a good one in fullback. That aint right. But lets hope he keeps the form up.
Mowen or Chapman would already be there if Deans rated them. I can’t see them coming into the Tri-Nations squad now, with Palu and Rocky in there. The only one with a chance is Lote.
Mummy needs to grow a beard, a la Le Fuse, to make himself look meaner. Combo of baby face and monika sends the wrong message….maybe he could change his name to, umm, Meads?
this is how i would rated them:
1. Benn Robinson 8
2. Squeeky Moore 7
3. Le Fuse 6
4. Kev Horwill 4
5. Nathan Sharpe 6
6. Dean Mumm 4
7. George Smith 10
8 Richard Brown 8
9. Luke Burgess 5
10. Gits 5.5
11. Drew Mitchell 7
12. Berrick Barnes 5
13. Morty 6/5
14. Lachie Turner 7
15. AAC 8
16. Ben Alexander 8
17. TPN 5
18. David Pocock 7
19. Phil Waugh 7
20. Josh Valentine 7
You give giteau a 5.5? you do realise he scored ALL the points right? I’m not saying that necessarily qualifies you for MotM but at least a credit surely.
morty could have kicked those goals. i felt he didn’t take command of the game like a 10 should. our attack a time was void and i think he should have done more.
He also scored the only try of the game, once again not an instant MotM but an obvious plus no other player has.