The Wallabies’ 25-17 win over the Springboks at the Adelaide Oval was all about one man.
Marika Koroibete.
A performance for the ages from the winger, doing everything from scoring tries to setting them up to saving them to falconing South African waterboys, was the driving force behind arguably Australia’s best win since Dave Rennie took the reins.
Koroibete’s performance was aptly rewarded by Roarers – he didn’t just smash the record for the highest average in our DIY player ratings history with a whopping 9.62 out of 10, but was given a perfect 10 out of 10 by 71 per cent of voters, also a record.
We’ll assume the one score of 1 he received was a misclick, and presumably the four people who chose to give him a 7 are either the world’s harshest critics or still-disgruntled Melbourne Storm fans.
Koroibete was far from the only Wallaby to feature highly in the ratings, however: Fraser McReight continued his ascendancy with a 7.96 average to be next-best, while captain James Slipper, Matt Philip, Noah Lolesio, Rob Valetini, Len Ikitau and Reece Hodge all passed the 7 mark.
The only downside was a team-worst rating for Taniela Tupou, with the Tongan Thor’s limited influence off the bench seeing him become the only Wallaby to not finish with an average of above 5.
1. James Slipper (c)
Average score: 7.29
Most common rating: 7 (36.4%)
2. Folau Fainga’a
Average score: 5.32
Most common rating: 6 (27.8%)
3. Allan Alaalatoa
Average score: 6.85
Most common rating: 7 (42.9%)
4. Rory Arnold
Average score: 6.12
Most common rating: 6 (40.7%)
5. Matt Philip
Average score: 7.01
Most common rating: 7 (38.5%)
6. Jed Holloway
Average score: 6.14
Most common rating: 6 (40.9%)
7. Fraser McReight
Average score: 7.96
Most common rating: 8 (44%)
8. Rob Valetini
Average score: 7.42
Most common rating: 7 (36%)
9. Nic White
Average score: 6.75
Most common rating: 7 (33.9%)
10. Noah Lolesio
Average score: 7.43
Most common rating: 7 (36.5%)
11. Marika Koroibete
Average score: 9.62
Most common rating: 10 (71%)
12. Hunter Paisami
Average score: 6.94
Most common rating: 7 (38.3%)
13. Len Ikitau
Average score: 7.24
Most common rating: 7 (41%)
14. Tom Wright
Average score: 6.56
Most common rating: 7 (35%)
15. Reece Hodge
Average score: 7.01
Most common rating: 7 (40%)
Reserves
16. Dave Porecki (Sub on in 56th minute)
Average score: 6
Most common rating: 6 (38.5%)
17. Scott Sio (Sub on in 64th minute)
Average score: 5.86
Most common rating: 6 (39.4%)
18. Taniela Tupou (Sub on in 64th minute)
Average score: 4.38
Most common rating: 5 (30.1%)
19. Darcy Swain (Sub on in 51st minute)
Average score: 5.9
Most common rating: 6 (37.1%)
20. Rob Leota (Sub on in 70th minute)
Average score: 5.8
Most common rating: 6 (37.8%)
21. Pete Samu (Sub on in 64th minute)
Average score: 6.57
Most common rating: 7 (36.1%)
22. Tate McDermott (Sub on in 64th minute)
Average score: 6.06
Most common rating: 6 (33.1%)
23. Andrew Kellaway (Sub on in 70th minute)
Average score: 5.77
Most common rating: 6 (34.7%)
jameswm
Roar Guru
And he will be for another year or two. Still growing into his body. But still offers a lot.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
This is the perfect time to play Wilson. Both him and Hooper play well in the wide channels and don’t work on the pitch at the same times having Wilson at 6 roaming wide off the bench in the last 20 minutes could be of big value.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
I don't disagree. SH sides do get treated much more harshly in the NH. But it's something that needs to be factored in. Bring up the arm to make it very hard for the NH refs to do anything.
Rolando
Roar Rookie
Well ESPN stats say Slips gave away 5 penalties while Rugbypass says he gave away 3 penalties although neither platform says how the penalties were conceded. I saw two from the scrum that I was sure of but remember thinking on game night that he'd given away another but I don't now remember how.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
They brought McRight off once the game was won and they had the 6:2 bench allowing for it. With a 5:3 split on the bench he plays 80 and the wallabies should be using the 5:3.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
The only reason a NH ref would have a closer look at some of those tackles is because he plays for a SH side. They seem to have no issue with the Owen Farrell specials.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Hahahahahaha
Ozrugbynut
Roar Rookie
He is a penalty magnet like latu and can't reliably nail the basics. He needs to lift big time.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
Good for one penalty for a chop tackle to the knees every game.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Hope not but he really will need to be careful.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
He has Type 2 diabetes to look forward to...
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
The AB starting scrum was a massive weapon for them last week. The bench front row not as good though
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Agree re Frost
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He’s been going great off the bench. He is better there
pm
Roar Rookie
Keep him in the 23. Clearly he is up to it.
Adam (Though An Imposter)
Roar Rookie
There were a few tackles that looked a bit dodgy in that match from Koroibete. With a bunch of NH refs, he'd get in trouble for sure. It's not a "may," it's an "eventually will." Better to work on it now than cry about it when it happens.
Double Agent
Guest
So you deducted a point from his performance for something that 'may' happen in the future? Kinda like marking a 100% correct maths test 99% because the student might make a mistake next time. Interesting.
Darren WA
Roar Rookie
Rob Leota a 6, this doesn't make sense as his defence was very good??
Mo
Guest
It’s hard to imagine that korobeiti could have played better. Any way isn’t 10 might as well been John eales? Mk meets the wing equivalent of that standard. And he’s friggin consistent now.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
The ideal of perfection is one of the major contributors to the human condition