What a difference a week makes!
After confidence in the Wallabies hit a new low following their miserable efforts in a Bledisloe sweep, they casually come out and pip the reigning World Cup champions in a thriller on the Gold Coast.
Few Wallabies fans could have foreseen the victory coming, especially given the Springboks were coming off a Lions tour win and had looked ominous in their two wins over Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
As usual, we got you to give every Wallabies player from the Test a score out of ten. Here are your results.
For the first time all season, Michael Hooper was not your man of the match – but there are no points for guessing who was.
Quade Cooper’s extraordinary return performance saw him score a very impressive 8.81 out of ten, although Hooper wasn’t far behind on 8.25.
Surprisingly, they were the only two players who score eight or above. Samu Kerevi took third place with an average of 7.86, while Nic White’s cameo off the bench was well-received, earning him a score of 7.33.
1. Angus Bell
Average score: 6.11
Most common rating: 6 (34.3%)
2. Folau Fainga’a
Average score: 4.76
Most common rating: 5 (27.7%)
3. Allan Alaalatoa
Average score: 5.93
Most common rating: 6 (41.1%)
4. Izack Rodda
Average score: 5.93
Most common rating: 6 (38%)
5. Matt Philip
Average score: 5.98
Most common rating: 6 (37.1%)
6. Lachlan Swinton
Average score: 6.03
Most common rating: 6 (31.3%)
7. Michael Hooper (c)
Average score: 8.25
Most common rating: 8 (33.1%)
8. Rob Valetini
Average score: 6.78
Most common rating: 7 (40.6%)
9. Tate McDermott
Average score: 6.38
Most common rating: 7 (31.5%)
10. Quade Cooper
Average score: 8.81
Most common rating: 9 (33.5%)
11. Marika Koroibete
Average score: 6.68
Most common rating: 7 (34.7%)
12. Samu Kerevi
Average score: 7.86
Most common rating: 8 (45.3%)
13. Len Ikitau
Average score: 6.76
Most common rating: 7 (40.8%)
14. Andrew Kellaway
Average score: 7.02
Most common rating: 7 (45.4%)
15. Tom Banks
Average score: 5.28
Most common rating: 6 (29.4%)
16. Feleti Kaitu’u
Average score: 6.21
Most common rating: 6 (35%)
17. James Slipper
Average score: 5.97
Most common rating: 6 (42.1%)
18. Taniela Tupou
Average score: 6.21
Most common rating: 6 (38.8%)
19. Robert Leota
Average score: 5.64
Most common rating: 6 (38%)
20. Pete Samu
Average score: 6.50
Most common rating: 7 (36.8%)
21. Nic White
Average score: 7.33
Most common rating: 7 (34.9%)
22. Reece Hodge
Average score: 4.85
Most common rating: 5 (31.5%)
23. Jordan Petaia
Average score: 5.57
Most common rating: 5 (35.6%)
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Yes J Don't reply without your glasses on. My apologies back to you, and yes, Swinton at 6 is a definite for me
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Correct but his surname is de Jager. Like calling Jean de Villiers, Villiers. Which is a whole different surname.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, apologies. It felt to me like he was involved in contact situations dozens of times in the match and got it wrong once. He has a reputation as a hot head and I think he's trying hard to balance that with the demands of his coach to bring top level physicality. On balance, I reckon he got it mostly right in this game with one small slip.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure but will concede it could be perceived that way. Swinton's contributions were off the chart and far higher than anybody else. He went very low to hit the biggest unit on the field and failed to wrap an arm and was only penalised. Fainga'a made many less contributions and made a number of no-arms tackles although only called up for one when carded. On balance, I scored Swinton 7 and Fainga'a 4.
Coker
Roar Rookie
Medians tell the same story though — 6 for the forwards vs 6.8 for the backs. Koroibete is certainly too high, but he's not the only one.
Monsta
Roar Rookie
Rodda was MIA. How did he get a rating above a 5? Zero carries, 6 tackles (1 missed) and 2 passes. Must have won every line out then although thats not what I saw.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
It's actually Lodewyk de Jager if it concerns you that much
Tim J
Roar Rookie
ozinsa, I am stating fact. No arms in more than one tackle, so I cannot see how my comment was lazy. He needs to work on his technique, if it was a Boks player would you say the same thing?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Utah
Guest
Ozinsa, the exact same thing could be said about Faingaa then? Was asked to play an aggressive role and did it with a couple of small errors? That’s not what I believe though. They were both guilty of lazy, dangerous tackles that cost the team, and not just once. Not a hanging offence, but when it comes to scoring players performance then of course it will lose them points.
Combesy
Roar Guru
Think you might of misunderstood my comment. I’m not bothered. But I do think its a bit of an indictment on the comp.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
It is not hate… it is his failure to step up and make the 15 his own. He does do the basics well, he does put in the work around the field, but for me personally I want a 15 who can threaten a defense from the back. Banks does not offer that. Look at the 15’s of wallabies past: Israel Falau, Latham, Burke to name a few. Teams thought twice about kicking the ball to them. It seems that Dave R wants stability and that is what he is getting. My guess is we want some excitement from the back.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Faingaa who was quite poor though brought down the average a fair bit though. IMO Koroiebete scored far too highly.
PeterK
Roar Guru
don't agree, you can play an aggressive role without using shoulder charges, there is no excuse
PeterK
Roar Guru
Bodger - If you start Hodge at 15 you do not lose his versatility / utility value at all. The bench just needs someone who covers f/b. It would be zero difference to versatility if Hodge started and Banks was on the bench as an example.
GusLogie
Roar Rookie
Swinton had plenty of impact. Watch again at who is stopping Thor and Eben in their tracks. Not easy to do. Had the biggest physical impact to go with high work rate.
Aldo
Roar Rookie
Tupou as well
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Wake up, Bell and Swinton are from NSW and have made a couple of mistakes in their short test careers. They need to be mercilessly slandered
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I completely agree. We beat the Boks with a forward pack scoring 6’s. That simply doesn’t happen
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Actually I think Swain is the better maul defender but nothing else