The Wallabies fell just short of an incredible comeback in a 29-25 loss to Wales on Sunday afternoon.
How did the players rate in that thriller?
1. Scott Sio - 5
Scrummed solidly and made his tackles but didn’t get much ball come his way.
2. Tolu Latu - 5
Kept a steady scrum and hit his lineout targets but wasn't as influential as he was against Fiji a week ago.
3. Allan Alaalatoa - 7
One of the Wallabies’ best. Carried hard and straight in the second when it was long overdue, and stuck his hand up for multiple carries.
4. Rory Arnold - 6
Performed strongly, particularly in defence, where he added muscle and didn’t allow Wales to get a roll on, with 11 tackles for the match.
5. Izack Rodda- 6
Performed solidly and kept up a good work-rate as usual but found the Welsh defence pretty staunch with his carries.
6. David Pocock - 6
Made one good turnover early but yet again wasn’t able to consistently find access to the ball at the breakdown. Wales did a good job on him. Gave a nice last pass to Haylett-Petty for a try.
7. Michael Hooper - 7
Another lion-hearted effort, with a gritty try and a big blindside hit the highlights. The skipper finished with 13 carries for 39 metres and set the tone in every part of the game for the Wallabies.
8. Isi Naisarani - 5
Performed a couple of decent carries in contact after oranges but was one of a number looking a bit lost in the first half.
9. Will Genia - 4
His tendency to throw long passes was jumped on by Gareth Davies and he gave up a try when his rival nine took an intercept on one such pass. He did it several times in the game. Offside? Borderline but Genia will be working on a quicker release.
10. Bernard Foley - 4
Never got into the flow of the game and had an unhappy night, with a few dropped balls under pressure. Lack of game time this year looked a factor in the overall rusty connections between the halves and inside backs.
11. Marika Koroibete - 6
Plenty of yardage yet again for the pacy winger but was unable to find the line. Found himself back-peddling when the ball was kicked to his corner, however, allowing Hadleigh Parkes to leap high and score over him.
12. Samu Kerevi 5
Looked dangerous early on the left edge but failed to get over the top over Dan Biggar and score, and then looked to lose a tonne of confidence as a ball-runner when he was penalised for leading with the arm to the throat.
13. James O’Connor - 5
One of a number of Aussies guilty of playing too laterally in the opening half, and without any cohesion as well. Needs to be the players whose role is committing defenders and playing, not trying to get around them.
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper - 5
Scored a try and effected a few nice tap backs but was otherwise unable to influence the game from his quiet wing, and with Wales holding the ball for much of the first half.
15. Dane Haylett-Petty - 7
One of Australia’s most threatening players when he runs the ball, finished with 16 carries for 109 metres, and did some nice cleaning up work but one of a number who also coughed up possession.
Reserves
16. Jordan Uelese - N/A
Late involvement was mostly marred by a sequence of scrum re-sets. They did win the penalty eventually.
17. James Slipper - 5
Tradesman-like shift off the bench for Slipper. Not sighted hugely.
18. Sekope Kepu - 6
Looked to bring some ball-running impact when he first arrived and got through the work.
19. Adam Coleman - 5
Late entry and helped Wallabies forwards build nice pressure in the last quarter.
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto - 5
Didn’t get many minutes, nearly made a handy break late in the piece but was pulled back for a forward pass.
21. Nic White - 5
White came on in the 53rd minute and was solid in his half hour off the bench, speeding up Australia's recycles.
22. Matt To'omua - 7
To'omua straightened up the Australian attack after replacing Bernard Foley in the second half. It was off the back of that that the Wallabies were able to generate some attack and claw back the deficit. Missed touch with a critical penalty kick but slotted three from three at the sticks.
23. Kurtley Beale - 6
Beale had a strong impact off the bench, adding some X-factor to the Wallabies attack but wasn't a game-changer.
