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Wallabies player ratings vs Argentina | The Rugby Championship

(Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)

The Wallabies have opened their 2022 Rugby Championship account with a hard fought 41-26 victory over Los Pumas in Mendoza today.

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Dave Rennie’s men had to come from behind after an ill-disciplined and disjointed first half that was further compounded by a spirited Argentine outfit who came to play up front physical rugby courtesy of their new Australian coach Michael Cheika.

The locals exposed the Australian’s early yet stand in skipper James Slipper rallied his troops who lifted their intensity in the contact zones, adjusted their discipline and simply built a wave of momentum that the Argentinian’s couldn’t abate.

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All Blacks post-match press conference

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All Blacks post-match press conference

This is how the Wallabies rated today:

1. James Slipper – 7/10
Was dominant in the set piece and did his job as reliably as ever in the contact zones. What impressed was the way he stepped in for skipper Michael Hooper and lead the side to what in the end was a solid win for the Australians.

2. Folau Fainga’a – 7.5
One of his better test matches. Solid in the set piece and the lineout worked efficiently today. He played with the aggression and intensity that was a message to the selectors that the injured Dave Porecki when fit simply wont walk back into the starting side.

3. Allan Alaalatoa – 6 
Didn’t have it his own way in the scrum and was penalised a couple of times for offences in that facet of play. This coupled with failing to plug a gap in the defensive line that allowed Pablo Matera to score didn’t bode well for him. However, he did, as always exhausted himself in general play.

4. Darcy Swain – 7 
An intelligent performance. His time out after being suspended during the English series appears to have been time well spent. He didn’t get sucked into any niggle and did the little things well.

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5. Matt Philip – 7 
A bit of an anonymous performance which isn’t a bad thing. Means he was doing the grunt work required.

6. Jed Holloway – 7.5
A wonderful debut for him. Was solid in the lineout and desperately unlucky to be penalised after poaching a Pumas throw at the front. And furthermore, came desperately close to scoring after trailing on the inside after the Wallabies made a surge down the right flank. Looks more than comfortable at test level.

7. Fraser McReight – 8
An exhaustive defensive performance. In a match where the hosts appeared to be dominant in the breakdown he never ceased his efforts and as the match went on his influence also became apparent. Was also influential in attack down the short side and was rewarded with a try off a drive from the lineout.

8. Rob Valetini – 8
He was a handful for the Pumas today and outplayed Pablo Matera today. Numerous dominant carries coupled with a physical defensive performance ensured he was the player the locals didn’t want to run at, nor wanted running at them.

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9. Nic White – 7.5
Bit of a shaky start after getting a kick charged down and also got himself into a bit of a verbal sparing match with referee Mike Adamson. For such an experienced player surely, he would understand there is only going to one winner in that dual. He appeared to calm-his-farm and went on to manage his side around the park very well.

10. Quade Cooper – 7 
Was playing well before he appeared to sustain a serious ankle injury whilst pressing the Pumas line. He was brave in defence and the way he held up the ball that allowed space for Jordan Petaia to exploit was vintage Cooper. It’s a shame as we may not see that again until 2023.

11. Marika Koroibete – 7.5 
Came alive in the second half as the Wallabies found a way to get himself into the game. He was exceptionally good under the high ball and was a standout for lifting the intensity and tempo of play in the second half. Appeared to have scored a try but was correctly disallowed after a forward pass, after he came off his wing for an inside pass, so structurally his timing could have been better.

12. Hunter Paisami – 7
A valuable performance. His lines in attack ensured the Pumas were often guessing. One infraction was he dropped one clean on attack but outside of that his passing game was on as was his defence.

13. Len Ikitau – 7.5 
Akin to his centre partner he was very good today both sides of the ball. He went about his work quietly and efficiently and thoroughly deserved his late try.
14 Jordan Petaia – 7.5 – He was dangerous all day down the right flank. His try coming off that flank to work off a deep sitting Quade Cooper was class. Relieved he didn’t appear to pick up an injury and hope to see more of this during the Rugby Championship.

14. Jordan Petaia – 7.5 
He was dangerous all day down the right flank. His try coming off that flank to work off a deep sitting Quade Cooper was class. Relieved he
didn’t appear to pick up an injury and hope to see more of this during the Rugby Championship.

15. Tom Wright – 6.5 
Solid without being spectacular. Didn’t really find a way to influence the game, but perhaps the shift to the 15 jumper didn’t assist. But certainly, didn’t let his side down today.

Reserves

16. Lachlan Lonergan – 6.5 – Liked his cameo towards the end. There doesn’t appear to much of him but he stuck in defence and nailed his basics.
17. Matt Gibbon – 6 – Was solid on debut. More to come from him.
18. Taniela Tupou – 7 – Brought the impact required. His line running was dominant and as expected his scrummaging gave the Wallabies an edge.
19. Nick Frost – 7 – Thought he was going score when running a supporting line down the middle track as he is known to have a quick pair of heels but it wasn’t to be. Was very good in the lineout and industrious around the park. Brought the impact.
20. Rob Leota – N/A – on late.
21. Pete Samu – 6.5 – Mr Consistent. Came on, brought his experience and calmness that helped the Wallabies seal the win.
22. Jake Gordon – N/A – on late.
23. Reece Hodge – 7 – Came on for the injured Cooper and managed the role well. Contributed with a solid kicking game.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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