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Wales player ratings vs Australia | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
By Owain Jones at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wales player ratings: Wales lost a record 11th consecutive Test against a rejuvenated Wallabies, to heap further pressure on Warren Gatland, who faces the World Champion Springboks in six days.
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Wales were humiliated, losing 52-20, as they shipped eight tries, with player of the match Tom Wright running in a hat-trick alongside hooker Matt Faessler
Giving Australia a 19-point lead after 20 minutes saw Wales playing catch-up and even when Joe Schmidt’s men were down to 14 men, they had the power and game management to rack up 21 unanswered points as their set-piece and mauling game left Wales powerless.
As Wales’ game fell apart, they lost the contact area, numerous line-outs and there was the dispiriting scene of scores of Welsh fans departing early in another depressing day in Welsh rugby.
Have Wales hit rock bottom? Ask them after Rassie Erasmus leaves Cardiff next weekend.
Here are the player ratings.
15. Cameron Winnett – 6
Still just 21, Winnett was calm and assured in the backfield. He consistently made yards with footwork from kick-offs with his silky footwork and always beats first man but he was not able to influence the game offensively.
14. Tom Rogers – 8
Wales’ best player. Historically had been guilty of making defensive errors in a Welsh shirt but smart thinking saw him hold Kerevi up to avert a try. His spot tackle on Kellaway showed his improved defensive game. He consistently put pressure on Wallabies’ outside backs and took several brilliant contestable catches from kick-off, showing his versatility as a wing-cum-full-back. Also carried with conviction. A highly commendable showing.
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13. Max Llewellyn – 6
Neat and tidy but this wasn’t a game where he could impose his 6ft 5in, 17st frame enough. Grew in confidence as the game wore on but couldn’t add to his prolific Premiership try-scoring form. Needs time in a Welsh shirt to build understanding with Thomas. Missed an interception late on which would have seen him racing away for a try.
12. Ben Thomas – 7
Thomas spent more time trying to shut down muscle-bound Wallaby attackers than using his creative skills. Showed footballing skills but couldn’t find Blair Murray when the try-line was begging. After the break, he came into the game more where his mazy running started troubling tiring Wallaby legs. His hard line on 67 minutes saw him rewarded with a try.
11. Blair Murray – 5
Superb take over his shoulder early on showed his technical skills but blotted his copybook with a flailing arm as he prevented the opening Wright score. Spilt ball in midfield in a mixed first half and a forward pass to James Botham saw a certain try chalked off. Showed spirit late on but the former Canterbury man will have better days in a Welsh shirt.
10. Gareth Anscombe – 6
Spent most of the first half hauling down 17 stone Kerevi and Wales’ early lack of shape and direction saw him regularly backtracking, notably by a rib-crunching Allatoa hit, which was indicative of Wales’ lack of direction. Kicked his penalties but the veteran fly-half being thrown unceremoniously into touch in the third quarter was another visual reminder of the difference between the sides.
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9. Ellis Bevan – 5
The Cardiff man was mostly used to loft the ball skywards, with the livewire Tomos Williams missing. He was more of a facilitator than a running threat but showed his softer skills by flicking a ball off the deck in the first half. A sloppy pass in the second half hit deck leaving Ben Thomas to clean up and was lucky not to be penalised for a late shot on Nic White. Replaced on 48 minutes.
8. Aaron Wainwright – 6
Carried hard into traffic but got little joy from the Wallabies’ defence until the 25th minute when he powered over Australia’s line. Still feeling his way back into Test rugby after a long injury layoff.
7. Jac Morgan – 7
Led the way with a relentless 26 tackles. Walloped early by Semu Kerevi, which saw the Wallaby battering ram sent to the bin and did not stop trying to carry Wales forward. Couldn’t have put more effort into the shirt.
6. James Botham – 7
Did a lot of the dirty work, trying to slow down Australian ball. A valiant tackle on Valetini showed his bravery. Botham was abrasive throughout and didn’t take a backwards step but a spill from Rogers’ offload saw Nick Frost galloping away for a seven-pointer. Always willing, he put in a creditable showing.
5. Adam Beard – 5
Few carries in midfield and used trademark pull-back passes – before being replaced by Christ Tshiunza.
4. Will Rowlands – 6
Carried hard in the tight but he was often isolated. Worked his backside off for 15 tackles but was powerless in a losing cause.
3. Archie Griffin – 6
Similar to Lake, extremely busy in the loose and learning his trade at the coalface. Pinged for being marginally offside late on in first-half. Griffin has huge potential.
2. Dewi Lake – 6
A Welsh battering ram but Wales need more guile and willing support runners to utilise his metres after contact. Showed leadership and clearly hurting in his post-match interview.
1. Gareth Thomas – 7
Made three tackles in the first minute, carried hard into traffic on several occasions and led the defensive effort until he departed the field on 54 mintutes, having put in 16 tackles. One of Wales’ most consistent performers and a dark horse for a Lions spot.
REPLACEMENTS:
Christ Tshiunza – 5
Penalised after taking first lineout ball after getting isolated when he was smothered by Skelton and came off second best to the La Rochelle giant. Yet to have his breakthrough moment in a Welsh shirt.
Kieron Assiratti – 5
Unable to influence matters up front, or with the ball in hand.
Ryan Elias – 5
Carried hard into traffic but failed to find his jumper on three occasions when Wales had attacking ball. Costly.
Nicky Smith – 5
Impossible to carry his Premiership form into the Test arena as Wales were on the backfoot in every area.
Tommy Reffell – 5
The Leicester man had little influence on the game at the breakdown and was chasing green and gold shadows in the final quarter.
Rhodri Williams – 6
First Wales cap in over 10 years. Lovely 50-22 showed his footballing skills and his experience was an upgrade on Bevan.
Sam Costelow – 6
Always willing but his telegraphed pass picked out by Tom Wright as Wales tried to force the game. Needs some luck.
Eddie James – 6
Willing in the Welsh midfield and with a big future the game, James will have more uplifting days in a Welsh shirt.
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Ridiculous and biased ratings. Rogers, Morgan and the front row apart, all other ratings inflated by 2 or 3 points in some cases.
Winnett is dreadful. He is too small and cannot defend. His positional play is good but size matters! For me, Rogers is the answer at 15.
You can read the same for Thomas. For me, make him a 10 and get Cardiff to play him there or move him to a Region that will do this. James has to be the 12 moving forward. When he came on, although at 13, his had physical presence and looked as if he belonged there.
Murray will come good, after all, he is still under 10 games played for region and country and is still learning the ropes.
Backrow balance still not right and Wainwright need to get off the pies!!
Did Gatland give these ratings? Way too high. A full back who can't tackle should be 3 at most. A replacement hooker who can't throw in should be even less. Tom Rodgers got turned over on several restarts. Adam Beard looked good until his injury and Wales fell apart after he went. So how did he and his replacement score the same? Given these scores, you would think that Wales had won!
I feel for Wales. The game over there is in terrible shape atm. Part of me was optimistic that given their history and rugby heritage, they’d turn fortunes around much in the way Italy started clicking after the last WC.
That said, they looked like a tier II side today.
Australia could do with a few more games as they are purring beautifully atm.
How can Wales' average player ratings after a 32 point loss to Australia be higher than the average ratings you gave Scotland for a close match against the world No.1 & world champs a week ago?😂
These ratings make no sense. I didn't watch the game but if you get thrashed your ratings should not average 6 or higher for the starters.
These are higher than the all blacks ratings this weekend... Ahahahahhahajajajaha