Player ratings from Wallabies’ historic win over All Blacks
It was a complete performance from the Wallabies as Michael Cheika’s men racking up a record-breaking score on their oldest rivals. But who stood tallest? WALLABIES, ALL BLACKS STUDS AND DUDS.
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It’s the performance Michael Cheika has been praying for with the Wallabies finally putting in a complete team display just months out from the World Cup. Here’s our Wallabies and All Blacks player ratings from Bledisloe I.
KURTLEY BEALE: Sharp at the back, bamboozling the Kiwis’ defence with his unpredictability and sound passing. The last try was reward for persistence. Rating: 8
REECE HODGE: Not much more a winger can do against the All Blacks, running for miles, bagging two tries, scrambling in defence and kicking well. Quality effort from a stellar player. Rating: 8
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JAMES O’CONNOR: Just walked into the starting side for the World Cup. Sensational composure and poise from a man who hadn’t started an international for six years, with precision passing and running lines giving Australia’s backline an edge. Set up the first try with a smart inside ball in contact, and another with a ball in space. Rating: 8
SAMU KEREVI: Used his brute force to set up White’s try and hit the All Blacks defence with his strong barges, laying a good platform with 132 metres run. Botched a try when he should have passed, that needs work. Rating: 7
MARIKA KOROIBETE: A thief’s try capped a remarkably enthusiastic performance from the former NRL star who cannot be denied a starting spot in this team. He came in looking for work, found it, and did the job well. Rating: 8
CHRISTIAN LEALIIFANO: The composure he has brought to the side has been exceptional. In his consistent style, Lealiifano has given Australia a sense of freedom and purpose that bodes well for World Cup playoff games. Rating: 8
NIC WHITE: Simply brilliant. White has transformed this team with his clever mix of sniping, quick passing and cut-out passes. Busy at the base of the ruck and controlled the tempo of the match. Loses half a point begging for a forward pass when he should have been tackling Rieko Ioane. Rating: 9.5
ISI NAISARANI: Proved a handy lineout option and ran the ball into heavy traffic like a veteran. He has walked into the Test arena like he’s always belonged. No fear against big-name rivals. Rating: 7
MICHAEL HOOPER: Another workhorse display from the inspirational Australian captain, who tackled himself to a standstill, made 20 runs, poached breakdown ball and led from the front in this epic result. Rating: 8.5
LUKHAN SALAKAIA-LOTO: Under pressure after a quiet start to The Rugby Championship, the backrower made strong charges, offloaded, tackled and stood up in the Bledisloe furnace. This was the immense player living up to his potential. Rating: 7.5
RORY ARNOLD: A beautiful try assist with a quick catch-and-pass, a couple of tackle busts, big runs, breakdown cleanouts and lineout catches - Arnold has established himself as Mr. Reliable in the tight five. Rating: 8
IZACK RODDA: A stern defensive effort from the Queenslander. He had presence on the field and didn’t flinch in the tight contact battles. Rating: 7
ALLAN ALAALATOA: Outstanding all-round performance after a few weeks out of the game. Anchored the scrum, made a remarkable 13 charges and was heavily involved at the ruck. Rating: 8
TOLU LATU: Attacked the breakdown like a demon and produced one of his finest Test performances. The lineout throwing held up, his tackling was strong, and he should be on the plane to Japan after this. Rating: 8
SCOTT SIO: Played his role well with the scrum holding up after All Blacks coach Steve Hansen had called their tactics into question. Was tough in defence. Rating: 7
How about the Lomu impersonation from Kerevi ð±ð±ð±ð±ð±ð±ð±ð± #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/4URdEOXNxY
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) August 10, 2019
RESERVES
FOLAU FAINGA’A: Came on late and added his spark, has a real fight on his hands for the starting spot now against Latu. Rating: 7
JAMES SLIPPER: Brought on late and with Australia in charge, the reserve loosehead had limited time to make an impact. Rating: 6
TANIELA TUPOU: A grubber in attack only adds to the aura around this revolutionary tighthead. More importantly, the scrum was strong when he entered the fray, and his ball-carries were typically aggressive. Rating: 7
ADAM COLEMAN: Some big tackles marked the return of the lock who was once first picked in the tight five. You could feel his desperation as the clock ticked over. Coleman brought the grunt we’ve come to expect. Rating: 7
LUKE JONES: Another late addition, looked to tackle everything in sight and made one run but with the team playing well, he was never a chance of meaningful minutes. Rating: 6
WILL GENIA: Played his typical probing game when he came on, but it will now be long odds that he displaces White as the starting halfback. The fact Genia is a bench option should hearten Wallabies fans who’d given up World Cup hopes. Rating: 7
MATT TOOMUA: A solid bench option with the halves now seeming set, he made a break and his kicking and passing in crucial moments will be important in coming games. 6.
Tom Banks: Another player who had limited time, missed a tackle and didn’t have a chance to impose his attacking flair. Rating: 5
NEW ZEALAND PLAYER RATINGS - JIM TUCKER
BEAUDEN BARRETT: Dangerous when he came forward to link with flyhalf Richie Mo’unga and he did just that to slice through for his try when the All Blacks had only 14 men. Stepped into first receiver more in the second half. Still seems a waste to not see him handling the ball more. Rating: 6.5
RIEKO IOANE: Quiet night for the dynamic winger. Came in off his wing a few times in defence. Just not enough ball to make the impact we usually expect but still bagged a try when the All Blacks countered off a turnover and was a fed a final pass by halfback Aaron Smith. Rating: 5.5
JACK GOODHUE: Only played 19 minutes before being forced off with injury. Produced the class Kiwi moment of the first half with his excellent angled grubber kick inside that Anton Lienert-Brown pounced on for a try. Including an extra point here for the best mullet in rugby. Rating: 6.5.
ANTON LIENERT-BROWN: Chased the Goodhue kick for a try, hustled well and starchy work as a ball-carrier (11 runs for 64m) but limited mark. Rating: 6
Ben Smith. Nothing much to do at all, spilt one pass and just not as involved when playing on the wing rather than at fullback. Rating: 5
RICHIE MO’UNGA: Had a trickle of ball to work with for the first 50-plus minutes until a surge of possession. With the ball in his hands finally, he found fullback Barrett and over he went. In the first half, a neat chip-and-regather created a chance and he made the strong try-saving tackle when Samu Kerevi had a dash for the line. Always dangerous. Rating: 7
Aaron Smith. Classy as ever and on turnover plays most of all. The halfback threw the last pass for the Ioane try. Rating: 6
KIERAN READ: Busy night in defence and scrapping for loose ball from the skipper. Made a super covering tackle on Michael Hooper late in the Test. Always hustling for his team but with 30 per cent of the ball for most of the night there were few running chances. Rating: 6.5
Sam Cane. Huge appetite for tackling as you’d expect and a constant presence at the breakdown in his 49 minutes. Rating: 6
How good are big hits though ðª #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup pic.twitter.com/TMvG3xcpDD
— 10 Sport (@10SportAU) August 10, 2019
ARDIE SAVEA: Not the imposing night many expected from the super-energetic Hurricane. Until his fine run down the left touchline in the final 10 minutes, the flanker’s biggest mark was pushing Michael Hooper’s head into the turf and giving away a penalty. Rating: 5.5
SCOTT BARRETT: Red card just before halftime. He braced shoulder and bicep to halt Michael Hooper as a second tackler when the Wallaby was falling to knee-high level. He was harshly dealt by 1990s standards but the referee spelt out the 2019 standard, “contact to the neck and head with force.” Dropped a pass in the first half. Rating: 4
SAM WHITELOCK: Worked away in tight but was playing in a losing pack. Rating: 5
OWEN FRANKS: So few scrums took away his regular platform to excel. Rating: 5
DANE COLES: After so much injury time off, it’s great to see this skilful hooker getting involved. He was around the ball constantly and figured in the build-up to the Ioane try with one of his four runs for 35m. Rating: 6
JOE MOODY: Only three scrums in his 49 minutes on the field and he was penalised for dropping one of those in the first half. The Wallabies had more than 70 per cent of the ball in that time so tackling was his main job. Rating: 5
NGANI LAUMAPE: Opportunist 40m try late in the game. Played an hour as a replacement. Rating: 5.5
ATU MOLI: When you in a beaten team, you are always a chance of being exposed and the big forward was when Kurtley Beale burnt by him on a sharp angle for his late try. Rating: NA
Patrick Tuipulotu. Rating: NA
TJ Perenara. Rating: NA
Matt Todd. Rating: NA
Codie Taylor. Rating: NA
George Bridge. Rating: NA
Angus Ta’avao. Rating: NA
Originally published as Player ratings from Wallabies’ historic win over All Blacks