After the highs of a remarkable first Test win, the Wallabies were brought back to earth with England bringing their A-game in Brisbane with the visitors winning 25-17. Here is how the Australian players performed in Brisbane according to your votes in our DIY player ratings poll.
England raced out to a 19-0 lead before the Wallabies slowly worked their way into the contest.
However, the early damage inflicted by England proved to be too much.
Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi both showed moments of magic again. It was very close for the average rating between Kerevi (6.89) and Tom Wright (6.88) but Wright had more readers give him a rating of 8 with 28% of respondents placing him as the best on ground for the Wallabies.
Taniela Tupou scored a try and showed why he’s such a beast on the field but it was a bit much to expect him to dominate after so long away from the game. He had a solid night with an average rating of 5.78 and a most common rating of 6.
The Wallabies had plenty of players receive common ratings of 7 but unfortunately, the bench wasn’t as impactful as the first Test according to your votes.
It was a huge shame that Jordan Petaia had to leave the ground so early after suffering a concussion. It would have been very useful for coach Dave Rennie to see how Petaia performed in a big game.
Izaia Perese tried hard before he too was injured and James O’Connor was off his game receiving an average score of 2.86.
Australia’s depth is to be tested again with so many injuries but they’ll be referencing the hardships they faced in game 1 and looking for inspiration from that performance to bounce back.
Credit has to go to England for taking to Australia and setting up a thrilling decider in Sydney.
1. Angus Bell
Average score: 6.32
Most common rating: 7 (34%)
2. Dave Porecki
Average score: 6.37
Most common rating: 7 (29%)
3. Taniela Tupou
Average score: 5.78
Most common rating: 6 (32%)
4. Matt Philip
Average score: 6.73
Most common rating: 7 (32%)
5. Cadeyrn Neville
Average score: 5.62
Most common ratings: 5 & 6 (32% each)
6. Rob Leota
Average score: 5.48
Most common rating: 6 (28%)
7. Michael Hooper (c)
Average score: 5.16
Most common rating: 5 (27%)
8. Rob Valetini
Average score: 6.30
Most common rating: 7 (33%)
9. Nic White
Average score: 6.44
Most common rating: 7 (28%)
10. Noah Lolesio
Average score: 6.49
Most common rating: 7 (29%)
11. Marika Koroibete
Average score: 6.82
Most common rating: 7 (41%)
12. Samu Kerevi
Average score: 6.89
Most common rating: 7 (39%)
13. Hunter Paisami
Average score: 6.14
Most common rating: 6 (35%)
14. Tom Wright
Average score: 6.88
Most common ratings: 7 (27%), 8 (28%)
15. Jordan Petaia (Subbed off after failing HIA test in 4th minute)
Average score: N/A
Most common rating: N/A
Reserves
16. Folau Fainga’a (Subsitute – 54th minute)
Average score: 3.75
Most common rating: 5 (27%)
17. Scott Sio (Sub on – 50th minute – Subbed off 52nd minute with injury)
Average score: N/A
Most common rating: N/A
18. James Slipper (Sub – 50th minute)
Average score: 5.42
Most common rating: 6 (34%)
19. Nick Frost (Sub – 57th minute)
Average score: 5.34
Most common rating: 6 (39%)
20. Pete Samu (Sub – 68th minute)
Average score: 5.59
Most common rating: 6 (40%)
21. Jake Gordon (Sub – 68th minute)
Average score: 4.99
Most common ratings: 5 (30%)
22. James O’Connor (Sub – 41st minute)
Average score: 2.86
Most common rating: 1 (31%)
23. Izaia Perese (Sub on – 4th minute – Subbed off 41st minute )
Average score: 4.51
Most common rating: 5 (36%)
Chris
Guest
Yep it`s all about me me me with Hooper.Not even going up to Banks and saying you ok mate was an absolute disgrace. He should be stripped of the captaincy immediately.
Chris
Guest
So he has never won a world player of the year. As is said. He is no good.
NUDGER73
Roar Rookie
I recommend that anyone who has access to STAN have a look at the Player-cam replay for the first test. The first half focused on Wallaby #7, the captain M.Hooper. It was very revealing to see the entirety of his input to that half. I was surprised at the minimal amount of positive influence he had on the game but what was most interesting was seeing his captaincy style - spent a lot of time apparently pondering his own thoughts with minimal interaction with anyone else. Disturbingly, when Banks went down with the broken arm, in spite of there being an obvious issue which took many minutes to resolve MH went nowhere near his injured team-mate. After his sub par effort in test 2 I don't see what he is bringing to the team. I was glad to see him with the lowest rating of the forward pack - well deserved.
Cec
Roar Rookie
As I stated Hoops was a Finalist for World Player of the Year 2021 and selected as the 7 for World Team of the Year 2021. I haven’t picked him but clearly plenty of coaches & experts around the world rate him as/amongst the best.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agreed - the rating suggests he is usually scored fairly, not the opposite.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Rubbish. He said complimentary things about them that were somehow twisted by the headline-seeking press.
jameswm
Roar Guru
McDermott passes clearly worse to his right than to his left.
Ruff Rucker
Roar Rookie
And that myth is perpetuated.
Chris
Guest
Hooper has never won a World player of the year award as he is not that good.
Chris
Guest
Bell was poor.Very poor !
Harty
Roar Rookie
At the game his line kicks into the corner from penalties seemed very poor. This probably links with the lack of lineout drive tries.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
I totally agree, but Wright is a bit of a what might have been and the score probably reflects that. He was moved into fullback for half the game and didn't embarrass himself but certainly looked more comfortable when on the wing. He's not ready to be a test fullback, but he also showed that he may well become a solid candidate for the spot if given a season, or at least half a season, to establish himself in that position. If I was Larkham and CFS is actually able to play next year I'd be looking at CFS in a power wing role, Muirhead in the Hybrid spot and Wright getting some time at 15 with Mogg on the bench for some of the games to see how it goes.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
The Brumbies weren't necessarily doing it to the weakest player under the high ball, what they were doing was making sure there was a player in position to put the receiver under pressure. The Wallabies aren't getting a player there. In the Brumbies set up that's usually Muirhead, a very underrated player who pops up everywhere come game time. He won't get a Wallabies jersey so they need MK to be that guy. Wright has to assist as fullback cover and the loosies are usually somewhere in the ruck. One of the loosies would also be a good choice, but you never know really which one will be in a position to make the chase so you need to train all 3 to do it.
Birthday Suit
Roar Rookie
I just love how unironically telling this post is. Hooper had an average game and was scored accordingly (although I’d argue he is marked far more harshly than most due to how good he usually is). But instead of ‘Hooper had a rare average game and was scored accordingly’, it turns into ‘see he’s terrible and if he isn’t in MoM territory every game then I’ve been right all along!??!!!’ I’m still genuinely unsure as to whether the 3 or so accounts that post this stuff (and all consistently like each others posts about Hooper) are one troll or an actual group of conspiracy theorist nutjobs. Either way, it’s hilarious to see the convoluted reasoning.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
Its probably an age thing, catches everyone eventually. Look at Matt Toomua, he's about 6 months older than JoC and hit the same wall about 6 months earlier. Both excellent players in their day, but their day is over. Neither will get better from here. Some others are going to hit that wall sooner rather than later, Slipper, White and Cooper are all strong performers who only have a year or two left in them at this level. My worry is that if Cooper comes on and underperforms this year and into next year we only have 1 option at 10 with any test experience. At least there are some props and 9s lining up for spots with a few matches under their belts.
cookie
Roar Guru
Is Holloway available this week? We could do with him at 4 5 or 6
cookie
Roar Guru
Ouch James O'Connor scored an average of 2.86 which obviously many thought was way too generous as the most common was 1 which means some people must have rated him highly to drag him right up. I honestly think O'Connor is not a bad player but has had his time at test level. Australia would be better off blooding Edmed or Donaldson or even persisting with Hodge.
Poco Loco
Roar Rookie
That's why you need Quade!
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
There has been reported that even Marky Mark will be selected ahead of Jock to the main squad...he has a higher ceiling than Jock...
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Ozinsa..i saw that our junior wallabies lost 69 -12 to baby blacks..all of this happening under Grey's watch...this is unacceptable...why would RA allow this...none of this has happen under Jason Gilmore..this is a real concern...