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Wallabies player ratings vs Springboks | Rugby Championship

Marika Koroibete. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

The Wallabies hosted South Africa at Adelaide Oval in front of a boisterous crowd.

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It was a blistering start for the Wallabies, as a Rob Valetini run down the blindside put them over the advantage line, and the forwards combined off second phase play to put Fraser McReight over right near the posts within the first two minutes of the game. 

The Springboks shored up their defence and tried to strangle the life out of the Wallabies, going hard at the ruck and trying to hold up players to force a penalty. 

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The Wallabies made important saves on defence and the wayward boot of Handre Pollard cost the Boks points in the first half. The Boks wrestled their way back into the game using their set-piece weapons but a frustrated Wallabies held tough and an incredible try-saving from Marika Koroibete prevented the Boks from evening up the score right on halftime. 

Their defensive efforts were rewarded, as the Wallabies opened the scoring early in the second half through Koroibete. From there the Wallabies were able to control the game by retaining possession and getting in the Boks faces. When McReight went over for his second try in the 60th minute, the Wallabies were gaining the ascendency. 

The last five minutes of the game were scrappy as the replacements for the Wallabies struggled for continuity, allowing the Boks in twice to tighten up the scoring, costing the Wallabies a bonus point. 

Here’s how the Wallabies rated:

1. James Slipper – 8/10
The skipper led from the front with a calm and measured performance. Stood up well at scrum time and worked hard around the park. The Wallabies have found their permanent captain heading into the World Cup. Delivered a sweetly timed inside ball for Lolesio to set up an important Wallabies try midway through the second half.

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2. Folau Fainga’a – 5.5
Had a good day at lineout time and controlled things well at the back of the rolling maul. Gave away too many penalties that kept the Springboks in touch. Replaced in the 55th minute by Porecki. 

3. Allan Alaalatoa – 7.5
Muscled up at scrum and has become a reliable leader for the Wallabies at set-peice. A decent work rate for a loosehead prop.

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4. Rory Arnold – 6
Brought raw aggression to the Wallabies forwards which was sorely needed against a monster Boks pack. It proved to be an epic matchup against Arnold and Eben Etzebeth, with both going at each all game. Replaced in the 51st minute by Swain.

5. Matt Philip – 7.5
Complemented Arnold’s abrasive play with hardworking toil and technical prowess in the lineout. Had one of his best games in gold. 

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6. Jed Holloway – 6 
Toiled away under the radar, making his tackles and supporting his runners to the breakdown. He also presented a treat at the lineout which gave the Boks jumpers pause for thought. Managed to get his hands on the ball for a few runs. 

7. Fraser McReight – 7.5 
Scored the opening try for the Wallabies, running off a short ball. Slipped into the vacated 7 jersey with ease, and proved to be a menace at the breakdown, slowing the ball up and disrupting the Boks phase speed. Made a crucial turnover right on the defensive line to prevent a Boks try in the first half. Capped it off by nabbing a second try off a pass from Noah Lolesio in the second half. Stills tends to throw a wayward ball and chooses the wrong times to go hard at the ball in the breakdown. 

8. Rob Valetini – 8
Was an immense physical presence on the park, willing to stand up to South Africa’s massive forwards in defence and running hard lines in attack. 

9. Nic White – 7
Controlled the game well from the base of the ruck. His experience was invaluable to a young and developing Wallabies backline. Put his body on the line in defence, frequently chopping Boks around the ankles to bring them down. 

10. Noah Lolesio – 6 
 Played facilitator for his backs outside him. Didn’t overplay his hand, instead picking his times to take on the line. Ran the inside line off James Slipper to split the Boks defence off the ruck and deliver a risky flick pass to McReight for his second try in the 57th minute. 

11. Marika Koroibete – 8.5
Puts in excellent performances game in and game out, and that’s why is considered the best winger in the world right now. He was courageous under the high ball and his powerful running game gave the Wallabies chances in attack. Made an incredible stop on Mapimpi to prevent a certain try right before half-time. He was rewarded for all his hard work by opening the scoring in the second half off a quick ball from Lolesio. 

12. Hunter Paisami – 6
Didn’t get many opportunities but ran hard and straight in the tight channels around the ruck. Used as a battering ram to get over the advantage line, he set the platform for the Wallabies attack out wide. 

13. Len Ikitau – 7
Proved a handful for the Boks defence with his direct running and evasive stepping. What was more impressive was his defensive display. The young gun managed to keep Am quiet for most of the game, which is no mean feat. Unfortunately went off late with an injury.

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14. Tom Wright – 6.5
Back on the wing for this game, he enjoyed finding space on the outside. Ran down the tram tracks to peel off big metres for his team, leading to the Koroibete try. 

15. Reece Hodge – 7
Looked very assured playing at fullback. Was a strong presence in the air and was able to control the game with his powerful boot. Pulled off a crucial chop tackle on Lood de Jager to prevent a certain try in the first half. 

Replacements:

16. David Porecki – 6
Returning from concussion, he entered the action in the 55th minute. Looks comfortable at international level, nailing his key roles at set-piece. 

17. Scott Sio – 5.5
Handy experience to bring off the bench but the Wallabies set-piece struggled in closing out the game. 

18. Taniela Tupou – 5.5
Entered the action late. Couldn’t impose his big frame on the game and spilt the ball a few times in the carry. 

19. Darcy Swain – 6.5
Was the perfect replacement to bring on and add extra grunt to the clash. Didn’t take a backwards step in the forward battle. 

20. Rob Leota – 6 
Instantly recognisable with his mullet blowing in the breeze. Put on some big shots and ran hard off the shoulders off the Boks defence. 

21. Pete Samu – 5
Came on late and got stuck into his work, making carries and supporting his forwards at the breakdown.

22. Tate McDermott – 5
Came on late and, under his stewardship, the replacements struggled to form cohesion, defending for most of the last ten minutes of the game.

23. Andrew Kellaway – 6
Filled in on the wing and was solid under the high ball. Got a few touches with limited minutes. 

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2 Comments
R
RK 1068 days ago

Springboks were rubbish to many out of form players, they really need a new attack coach.

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SK 1 hour ago
Lessons the Wallabies must heed to turn Lions heartbreak into future success

Brett I love your fresh take on the picture that needed to be painted and ultimately wasnt. I agree there just wasnt enough in it for the ref to call it back and ultimately the ref was consistent the whole night at the breakdown. Australia are damned disheartened now but look how close it came to beating a team Campo said would thrash them by 30. This is the perfect prep for the Rugby Championship and the Boks and NZ. The Boks will be able to bring a scary pack to face the Aussies but it will be just as scary as facing these lads and so the Wallabies for me are making progress. They are not quite the finished article and the soft moments and tries and passive defence just proves it. Schmidt was brought in to make Australia better, he was brought in to make sure Australia improved in time for the Lions to avoid an embarrassment and look he has done that and taken them close so while the result is gutting its a job well done so far. lets see if they can take one step further and pilfer a test off these patchy Lions. Just a quick word on refs and the laws. Can we please tell World Rugby to simplify the game. At least 5 or 6 laws were examined in the wake of the last minute cleanout and several said Tizzano should have been pinged, others say Morgan should have been pinged. If former players and refs cant agree on what the right call was then it means the game is too complex. The refs have a clear mandate to let the game flow. I agree with that but the laws must support the refs. Right now they do not and leave too many holes for the refs to plug. The result is a furore after every major engagement between nations where the refs are abused.

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I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

I’m a proud Irishman with a weakness for the underdog. My only stake in the game was an Aussie win to take the series to a decider. Even overlooking the actual clear out - which was the only thing Piardi instructed the TMO to review - I think it’s very easy to be objective and say that Australia got done on the calls.


It’s a phase of play that unfolds in less than 10 seconds but is fairly easy to breakdown.


1 - Ryan (#19 Lions) is tackled legally, goes to ground in possession of the ball but makes no effort to release the ball. He has to immediately once he goes to ground. PENALTY.


2 - Tizzano (#21 Australia) is first man to the ball (from either team) and forms the ruck with his own hindfoot. Side entry doesn’t apply to him as the ruck is not formed at this stage but rather it’s formed by him. NO PENALTY.


3 - Even to completely ignore the actual clear out (penalty/no penalty), foul play can still have occurred without the need for a HIA. The fact that Tizzano is walking around and available for the next match doesn’t mean he didn’t get emptied. His mouthguard data does seem to have registered an almighty force though. 50/50.


4 - Both Morgan (#20 Lions) and Genge (#17 Lions) go to clear out but both do so by driving through the ruck off their feet and falling over the ball. Sealing. PENALTY


5 - I still don’t understand why none of the coverage picks up on this - Morgan holds Tizzano’s feet in a wrap on the pitch after the clear out. On the match clock it’s 79.03 to 79.07 before he releases. Playing the player off the ball. PENALTY


Piardi controls the narrative when reviewing with the TMO and starts on the wrong foot. The discussion is all on the basis that both sets of players arrive at the same time (which changes mitigation around foul play) which they don’t. They clearly don’t as Tizzano is first to the ball.


For 79 mins that match was brilliant. The crowd was brilliant. The atmosphere seemed brilliant. It’s a loss on the sport that a gang of mic’d up officials can not get it right.

179 Go to comments
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