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Wallabies player rating - vs South Africa

Dane Haylett-Petty (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Wallabies opened their Rugby Championship campaign with a 17-35 defeat to the Springboks.

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Two bombed tries and a yellow card resulted in the Wallabies again leaving Ellis Park empty-handed.

Leezil Hendricks rates the Australian player:

15 Tom Banks

There was loads of pressure on the fullback during his first test start. Not quite producing his lethal runs but did enough to keep his side in the contest. Helped set up Dane Haylett-Petty’s try and his boot was of good use.
6/10

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14 Dane Haylett-Petty

The only thing was that the wing had a few good moments under the high ball and scored the team’s first try, other than that he was far from his best. He missed a costly try-scoring opportunity in the 34th minutes and also had a series of blunders in the second half.
4/10

13 Tevita Kuridrani

Had a very quiet game, the centre failed to make his infamous linebreaks and was replaced in the 58th minutes.
4/10

12 Samu Kerevi

The Reds captain caused massive headaches for the Boks’ defence. Showed great skills with lethal running and beat a few defences. He also made more than a handful of tackle. Certainly one of his team’s best performers.
8/10

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11 Reece Hodge

The wing was far from an attacking weapon. He struggled under highball and could not get his hands on the ball.
4/10

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10 Bernard Foley

The No.10 was in good form a made noteworthy runs. He combined well with Kurthley Beale for the Wallabies’ second try.
6/10

9 Nic White

The scrumhalf produced a good performance. He read the game well and pin-point kicks got his side in the right areas. Showed good speed to the breakdown and passing were also very impressive. Certainly a good display.
8/10

8 Isi Naisarani

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He was not the worse in the starting line-up but the NO.8 far from a breakdown threat, therefore, failed to apply pressure on the Springboks’ loose trio.
5/10

7 Michael Hooper (captain)

Like usual the captain was all over the show, he made tackles, made loads of runs., However, failed to make a steal at the breakdown.
6/10

6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

Could have had a try, but Kerevi’s pass was ruled forward – unfortunate for the flank, who put in a solid performance against the likes of Pieter-Steph – which is certainly not easy.
7/10

5 Rory Arnold

The lock was impressive at the lineout. He was very good in defence, especially when it came to the rolling maul. Made his tackles and had a few carries.
7/10

4 Izack Rodda

Linked up well with Arnold, but the lock was far from his industrious self.
5/10

3 Sekope Kepu

Struggled in the scrums and conceded a couple of scrum penalties as Tendai Mtawarira got the better of him. Kepu was replaced in the 46th minute.
3/10

2 Folau Fainga’a

Strong performance from the hooker, his lineout throw-ins was fine, however, the scrummaging was a massive challenge for him.
5/10

1 James Slipper

Put in a solid display but left the field in the 48th minutes after taking an accidental knee in the head in a tackle.
6/10

Replacements:

16 Jordan Uelese (on for Fainga’a, 65th minute)
Lasted juts two minutes as he made a hit on Schalk Brits but came out second best.

17 Harry Johnson-Holmes (on for Slipper, 48th minute)
A really tough introduction as conceded an early penalty in the scrum. Nonetheless made a could of runs and tackles.
5/10

18 Taniela Tupou (on for Kepu, 46th minute)
Within seven minutes of taking the field, the prop was handed a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Rynhardt Elstadt. Certainly a very disastrous incident for the Wallabies who conceded two tries during his absence.
4/10

19 Rob Simmons (On for Rodda, 58th minute)
Solid effort after coming on for Rodda. Reliable at the set-piece.
5./10

20 Jack Dempsey
Not enough time to be rated.

21 Will Genia (on for White, 64th minute)
Impeccable service to Beale, who made a break and set up Foley’s try. With more time he could have made a huge impact.
6/10

22 Matt To’omua (On for Kuridranie, 58th minutes)
Made a couple of tackles but had a massive defensive laps as failed to tackle Hershell Janjites, who sniped past the Wallaby for a try.
4/10

23 Kurtley Beale (On for Banks, 58th minutes)
The backs’ presence sparked Australia back into the contest. Made some lethal runs and instigated Bernard Foley’s try.

@rugby365com

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T
TI 3 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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