It was almost as exciting as the first Test but, for Wallabies fans, the result was far less enjoyable.
With the Wallabies going down to France 28-26 in a thriller last night, it’s time for you – the readers – to rate each player out of ten.
If you’re not across how we do this thing on The Roar, don’t worry. We’ve got handy instructions just here.
Simply, you rate each player from 1-10 based on your assessment of how well they performed. If you don’t think they were on the field long enough, or you just didn’t catch them enough, you don’t have to rate them – you can leave them blank.
Then, we take everyone’s votes, crunch the numbers together and publish them the next day, so you can see where your opinion falls amongst your fellow Roarers.
For a guide on how scores work, check this box out.
1. Had he not played, the team would have been better off. Negatively affected the performance of the side. May
GodJohn Eales have mercy on his soul.
2. Anonymous. Was he even there?
3. Did some things that you expect a player to be able to do, but did a whole bunch of other things that sucked.
4. Was passable in patches, but not up to standard in a match of such importance.
5. Performed his role without anything really noticeable happening.
6. Good.
7. Pretty good, actually.
8. Very good.
9. Excellent.
10. Extraordinary. Calling them man of the match would be an insult.
So, what are you waiting for? Fill the ballot in now!
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Again, this logic might hold up if - and it’s a very big if - we had a single player who could come in and replace Hooper and make enough of a difference at the ruck. Unfortunately, we do not have Pocock waiting on the sideline and even if we did, it’s highly unlikely that a single player on their own would change anything. The issue is far wider than just one player and dropping your captain and top 3 player for a marginal difference at the ruck is just madness. Luckily for me, the vast, vast majority of great rugby minds agree with me and not you.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
True! I was terrible at chasing box kicks and it had nothing to do with communication problems. I heard….
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Which stats are you talking about? I don’t know if a 13 that makes that near that many tackles.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Simple, either Hooper needs to actually play the ruck monkey role. Which means he needs to train to be second into tackles rather then first. Or Hooper needs to be replaced. Can you name a 2 6 or 8 currently available who will drastically improve the Wallabies breakdown without leaving us extremely exposed elsewhere? On the other side of the coin are 4 7s who achieve exactly that. We might lost a little in when it comes to ball running and defence, but we have a lot of ball runners. And none of the other 7 options are exactly poor defenders.
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
Then I am unsure of what your overall point is. If he is decent at the breakdown (while not being a full time ruck-monkey) and still the best overall backrower (and likely the most valuable forward available to Australia), then why would replacing him help? Wouldn’t we be better off replacing our 2, 6 or 8 – who are all currently overall inferior players – with someone who is better over the ball?
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
I never said that the Breakdown is the sole responsibility of the 7. Its just that its a skillset that a lot of specialist 7s have and not a lot of other players. Fardy was immense in the Breakdown from 6. Tolu Latu is pretty handy from 2 but they are exceptions. I also never said that Hooper is useless at the Breakdown, when Hooper is the second man into the tackle he makes a lot more turnovers than people realise. He happens to make a lot of first up tackles which reduces his breakdown effectiveness.
Dougie
Roar Rookie
Tooly. Hooper is smaller than Gordon . That made me laugh.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
For a No.7, I think its not great. For a 13, its great.
Highlander
Roar Guru
They are still there In the main You just can’t go thru the statsguru engine to get there Just type espn rugby stats followed the the game in google and it will come up That said,there are a few missing feom last weekend
Kevin Kranston
Guest
No one is better than 33 test centre Kerevi.No one comes close. The current Wallabies centres are tiny with less skills.
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
I can't get any good stats since statsguru has gone.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Our Bono would forbid the hunters from cooking and eating their bounty though. He will have brought along choko soup and maize rolls and an ethically picked apple for desert, I know that, 'cos he has scrupes 'n morals 'n such.
Josh
Roar Rookie
Probably should have used world 15 rather than world class as he is definitely world class
Phil
Roar Rookie
Exactly!
Double Agent
Guest
Last I heard he was taking big game hunters on safari in Africa.
Double Agent
Guest
Danty was a threat over the ball not an attacking threat. What difference would Godwin have made?
Rugby wizard
Guest
Big blunder,very big! from DR not having Godwin at centre,Danty would have been less effective,you shut down Danty and you beat the French.
Rugby wizard
Guest
I think people fail to understand why roarers and myself are constantly making calls for overseas players,its not that we are saying what's in AUS is not good enough,its because we realise that the little bit of extra quality wins test matches. Rassie Erasmus could have not called up overseas players,what was in SA was very good,but he realised the value in having overseas players with extra quality all be it only a little. We dont mention it much and SA fans dont either,but Louw is a perfect example,he could easily have been not selected,but it was the difference in winning a RWC and being knocked out in the semi final. A SA based flanker might not have made that vital steal that Louw made against Wales.
The Yabbie
Roar Rookie
Changers in game 3 ? 1) Wright is looking to Banks for confidence and Banks hasn't got any. Kellaway + ? who's fit? 2) I'd be resting our two starting props to swap with the bench. Tupou more effective at the back end 3) Phillip looks low on petrol so swap him with Swain. 4) Same for Wilson and Nairsarani.
Terry
Guest
Expect changes for next test