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The Wallabies turned in one of their poorest performances in some time to crash to a record 40-6 World Cup defeat to Wales in Lyon.
Having turfed out the old ways and old players, coach Eddie Jones asked an inexperienced side to take on a new gameplan based on, seemingly, ball retention and off-the-cuff attack. It was gobbled up by a Wales team happy to apply pressure and wait for the Wallabies to give up penalties.
The Wallabies players tried hard but were vastly outclassed.
So, how did the players rate?
Angus Bell 6
One of the few world-class players in the Wallabies line-up, who carried with conviction and worked hard. For all the stuffing around with captaincy in this Wallabies squad, isn’t the answer staring us in the face with Angus Bell?
Angus Bell faces off against Liam Williams.Credit: AP
Dave Porecki 4
Gave away the first penalty of the game, after 13 seconds, and it set the tone for a poor night from the team. Thrust into the unfamiliar role of captain, Porecki’s choice to push for a try in the 26th minute showed inexperience.
James Slipper 6
Starting at tight-head for just the third time since 2019, for any team, Slipper proved his class by winning two penalties early in the scrum and leading by example. The scrum went backwards when he was replaced at half-time.
Nick Frost (right) with Robert Leota during the match against Wales.Credit: Getty
Nick Frost 6
One of the few who will leave the World Cup with his reputation enhanced. But it’s perhaps a good indication of where the Wallabies are placed that Frost – at the age of 23, and in his second year of Test rugby – has taken the role of a dependable senior player. The 14-cap lock has added power to his athleticism and will be a banker for the Wallabies in years to come.
Richie Arnold 4
A hard-working lock whose France-honed skills as a set-piece expert have not really been seen in the Wallabies’ chaotic gameplan.
Rob Leota 6
Some dynamic running from Leota showed why he is one of the Wallabies’ greatest untapped resources. But he was one of several who had to try to bash his way through a brick wall, as opposed to well-crafted attack exposing weak shoulders.
Tom Hooper 3
It feels almost unfair to be critical of Tom Hooper given how much effort he puts in, every single time. And the fact he is not a No.7 but was asked to play the role by Jones. His decision-making is immature, and so is his physical development. That is no surprise, really. In an ideal world, Hooper would be in this World Cup squad in the bottom half for experience, and playing a year of Test rugby in 2024 off the bench.
Taulupe Faletau is tackled by Tom Hooper.Credit: Getty
Rob Valetini 6
A hard-as-rocks forward whose work at the contact line often goes unheralded each week.
Tate McDermott 5
The most threatening of the Wallabies in the first half, when the team was actually in the match. But he is most effective when popping out from a ruck, and the Wallabies pack didn’t go forward enough to open those half-gaps.
Ben Donaldson passes against Wales.Credit: Getty
Ben Donaldson 3
Another guy put into a high-pressure role with barely any time in the seat. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t turn out well. Let the first try through with over-exuberant line speed, passed to a Welsh player after a line break and generally didn’t have solutions for the fast Wales defence. Was hooked in the 50th minute.
Marika Koroibete 4
It is an indictment of the Wallabies’ gameplan if Koroibete is not given chances to impose himself in a Test match. Game stats indicate the flying winger ran for just nine metres in the game. Nine metres.
Australia’s Samu Kerevi is tackled by Wales’ Taulupe Faletau.Credit: AP
Samu Kerevi 3
One of the few off-nights we’ve seen from Kerevi, whose power running and offload game has proven to be a main Wallabies attacking weapon in recent years. The confused fumble at the end from the big centre, as he weighed up running or passing long, summed up the side’s bereft attacking strategy.
Jordan Petaia 4
Solid without being spectacular, as with most of his teammates. Another who should be heavily involved in wide channels, particularly against up-and-in defences, but the ball never made it there.
Mark Nawaqanitawase 5
See above. The athletic potential of “Marky Mark” is clear, but strategies have to be more advanced to exploit them; either aerially, with sweeping plays, or on the inside of a No.10. Getting him the ball near the ruck with a “do your best” is low percentage.
Andrew Kellaway 4
Think back to not-so long ago when Kellaway was a try-scoring machine. He looked short of a gallop in Lyon, and that’s mostly because he was. One of the Wallabies’ more dependable players, only called up in the most important game of the tournament.
Matt Faessler 4
Given 21 minutes but the game was lost at that point. A promising 24-year-old hooker worth persisting with.
Blake Schoupp 4
Hungry for work, making six tackles in 12 minutes. But another who needs two or three more Super Rugby seasons to be a dominant presence at Test level.
Pone Faumausili 3
Coming off injury, didn’t reach anywhere near the heights of his Dunedin performance. Scrum was beaten during his stint.
Matt Philip 3
Works hard but was given 15 minutes in a game that was already over.
Fraser McReight 4
Replaced in the starting side because the World Cup has favoured bigger bodies. Wales barely used the ball, so his on-ball skills wouldn’t have helped anyway.
Nic White 4
A 13-minute shift with no chance to influence the game.
Carter Gordon 3
Given half-an-hour and, again, didn’t look hugely settled. Here’s hoping Gordon grows from all the pressure he’s been exposed to in 2023, and doesn’t shrink.
Suliasi Vunivalu 3
The hope of having a player like Vunivalu is he comes on as a super sub, and makes a game-defining play when a tight match is on the line in the last quarter. That wasn’t this game.
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