Wallaby player ratings after victory over Argentina
THE remarkable Wallabies’ comeback in Salta saved the jobs of coaches and several players. Jim Tucker deals out his player ratings.
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THE remarkable Wallabies’ comeback in Salta saved the jobs of coaches and several players with a smart adjustment of playing style at halftime.
Turning the 31-7 debacle at halftime into a brave 45-34 victory over Argentina at high-altitude won’t prevent a searching examination of just where things nearly went horribly wrong.
JIM TUCKER deals out his Wallabies’ player ratings.
Dane Haylett-Petty: Caught difficult high ball in his own quarter and decided to run it back rather than kick it back 50m in the high-altitude. Tackled, penalised and 5m lineout stress was the result of a typically poor Wallabies’ decision in the first half. A rare black mark in a strong game. Two key tries and a calm grubber ahead to set up the position for the go-ahead David Pocock try. Best running stats for the Wallabies...12 runs for 111m. Caught kick-pass on touchline and got return ball for a vital try. Rating: 7
Israel Folau: No runs, no metres in the first half summed up how playing him on the wing is hopeless when you aren’t smart enough to use him. First gallop and he flung a ridiculous one-handed pass into touch. Re-ignited in an instant and was one of the match-turning forces with five runs for 62m. Brilliant inside angle on his run for the try to get score back to 31-21. Rating: 6.5
Reece Hodge: No punch from outside centre has been a problem since Samu Kerevi’s direct running and tackle-busting were removed from the side because of injury. A fill-in role. Stout in defence but pushed a pop pass that was intercepted for a costly early try for Argentina. Rating: 5
Kurtley Beale: Has lost confidence and dropping one pass cold to end the first half was a clear sign. Not his best game but kept trying. Rating: 5
Marika Koroibete: Overrated. Drop him. Shabby, hurried last passes and heart-in-mouth defender. Did make key tackle on Argentinian winger behind his tryline when pressure led to go-ahead try. Packing four scrums as an emergency flanker would never have been in his plans when he switched from the NRL. Rating: 4.5
Bernard Foley: Stood up in the second half to steer the game-style changes to rescue the Wallabies from crisis. Banging over seven-from-seven with the boot was crucial. Smart kick-pass to Haylett-Petty on sideline set up a try and generally showed he is has to be Australia’s five-eighth. He’d like to forget the missed tackle when Argentina scored a first half try. Rating: 6.5
Will Genia: Kicking the ball dead from a turnover in the first half was a blooper but his precision was vital when the rally started. His fine cutout pass put Michael Hooper over and he made a try-saving tackle in the first half. Rating: 6
David Pocock: Non-stop from the backrower again. Plenty of tackling, 12 runs and grunt in the tight and his extra work on ball skills over the past few seasons paid off. He managed to flip out a ball for the key Haylett-Petty try and was alert to grab a deflected Genia pass to turn it into the try that pushed Australia in front 35-34. Rating: 7
Ned Hanigan: One of the backrower’s best Tests because he did the basics well when too many teammates did not. Became a reliable lineout-winning target and was part of the key two-man tackle which pinned Argentina behind their tryline in the build-up to the Pocock try. Rating: 7
Michael Hooper: Strong leadership to make sure Australia changed their flippant, wide game to a more direct style to win it in the second half. Argentina’s first try burst between Hooper and Foley in defence. A try and plenty of alert play around the ball in the second half. Rating: 6.5
Izack Rodda: Give the big lock a cheer. Non-stop and always works for a charge down and got one to trigger the comeback. Charged down a clearing kick and scored his first Test try. Good work in the tight. Rating: 7
Adam Coleman: A lineout leader can’t lead a lineout this erratic. Had throws picked off to him again so plenty of remedial work with hooker Folau Faingaa is still needed. Some thumping hits and a several assertive hit-ups in his 10 runs. Rating: 6.5
Taniela Tupou: Earned an excellent forced penalty when latching on to one ball at the tackle and stable scrummaging from the prop but gave away a back chat penalty in his 40 minutes. Rating: 5.5
Folau Faingaa: Mixed bag from the hooker. First lineout was an abomination. His connection with Adam Coleman failed and he knocked on the erratic tap-down. Better throwing from there and one nice run in the first 40 minutes before being replaced. Won’t be starting next Test. Rating: 4.5
Scott Sio: Not sighted in the first 40 minutes. Rating: 5
Reserves:
Tolu Latu: Just like he did against Ireland, he turned a Test. Lovely short pass to put Folau away for his try and another good one to front-row buddy Allan Alaalatoa. Must start next Test at hooker. A yellow card for using a forearm to the face on the ground is ill-discipline he needs to rub out of his game. Rating: 7.5
Sekope Kepu: Strong, calm second half impact. The veteran prop was an important sub and settling runs in the middle were valuable. Rating: 7
Allan Alaalatoa: Excellent super-sub. Partnered Hanigan in the key tackle than pinned Argentina behind their tryline to set up the 5m scrum from which Pocock scored for the go-ahead try. Active and hungry for work. Rating: 7
Rob Simmons: Did his work solidly. Rating: NA
Matt Toomua: Rating: NA
Nick Phipps: An important final 15 minutes to relieve the spent Genia. Good contribution. Rating: NA
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