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Player ratings: Australia

29th September 2012 19:10

Australia Radike Samo South Africa Francois Hougaard

4/10: Radike Samo

South Africa overcame Australia 31-8 in the Rugby Championship at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Now it's time for Planet Rugby to rate the Wallabies.

15 Berrick Barnes: Lasted just half-an-hour at Loftus and in that 30 minutes did not cause any problems for the Boks with ball in hand. 2/10

14 Dominic Shipperley: Had a full game but like so many of his team-mates, came off second best to his opposite number. Shipperley didn't shirk the hard yards but no winger in world rugby would have kept up with Bryan Habana today. 5/10

13 Adam Ashley-Cooper: The lasting memory of another never-say-die effort from the versatile back will be his last-ditch tackle on Zane Kirchner. He forced the Springbok into touch, despite being out cold, and was one of only a few Golds able to look in the mirror knowing he gave 100%. 7/10

12 Pat McCabe: Battered and bruised but with little to show for his efforts. 4/10

11 Digby Ioane: Came off due to blood in the 19th minute before returning for about 40 until being replaced for the remainder of the clash. Ioane didn't cause the Springboks any problems whatsoever on Saturday as his usual search for work did not bear fruit. 3/10

10 Kurtley Beale: Seemed to be the Wallabies' only real attacking threat as he set up Mike Harris for a try and did well when his pack won him some rare front-foot ball. 6/10

9 Nick Phipps: It is never easy for a scrum-half when he his forward pack is going backwards so for that reason we won't be too harsh on Rebels number nine Phipps. 5/10

8 Radike Samo: Was yet another Wallaby to leave the field prematurely as the veteran went off on 55 minutes. Tried hard but was well beaten in his battle with Duane Vermeulen. 4/10

7 Michael Hooper: A typical workmanlike shift from the pocket-sized flank but it was all in vain. Was the Wallabies top tackler with ten completed while he ran well at times. 6/10

6 Dave Dennis: Fairly anonymous from Dennis again as the Bok pack dominated. 4/10

5 Nathan Sharpe: As is his wont, Sharpe gave his all for the cause but it was in vein. 5/10

4 Kane Douglas: Was replaced on 50 minutes and could not replicate his Test debut performance of last week. Wasn't a threat to the Boks in the tight or at line-out time as during his time on the field, the hosts managed a 100 per cent record on their own throw. 3/10

3 Ben Alexander: Solid if unspectacular from the Brumby as he played most of the game and had a fairly even battle with the Beast. 5/10

2 Tatafu Polota-Nau: It seems doubtful the 'Tah will be fit to take the field in Rosario next weekend as he was icing a shoulder after being floored in contact. Tried admirably to come back onto the field but referee Alain Rolland was having none of it late in the game. 4/10

1 Benn Robinson: Was replaced on the half-hour in what looked like a tactical switch from Robbie Deans and then reappeared for Alexander late on. It was not a memorable day for the pack and Robinson was one player who will be unhappy with what happened. 3/10

Replacements:

16 Saia Fainga'a: Did not make it onto the field.

17 James Slipper: Arrived for Robinson on the half-hour and was yellow carded in the 52nd minute. That landed his side in it and from there the altitude factor took its toll. 4/10

18 Rob Simmons: On for Douglas on 50 minutes, rarely carried and lost ball twice. 3/10

19 Liam Gill: Replaced Samo and at that stage it was a case of tackling for the cause. 4/10

20 Brett Sheehan: Not on long enough to warrant a rating.

21 Mike Harris: The late call-up did well when he came on and scored after good work from Beale. A likely starter at 10 next week, with Beale possibly moving back to 15. 6/10

22 Anthony Fainga'a: On and off for his team-mates during the first half and did not get much of a chance to attack in the second stanza. Very quiet day for the Reds centre. 4/10

Comments

passtheball says...

Alistair - neat comment re AAC!

4 for Mc Cabe when he bust a gut chasing Boks, tackling the night away "but little to show for his efforts" it seems. Same could be said of all the Argies. Too tough!

Next week could be Dean's final game? A good coach goes north?

Posted 15:45 01st October 2012

Alistair says...

These scores are a joke. My maths might be wrong but I think that is an average score of 4.35 which is much worse than Argentina, after they got pounded. The Boks played well but if you think Australia's injury toll didn't affect the outcome you are as wilfully blind as geogesmith. To be honest I'm surprised anyone still bothers to read his comments. Maybe I'll set up an alias called schalkburger and start posting drivel about how rubbish B. Habana was? That would be clever...

Giving Barnes a 2 is bizarre. If 5 is an average game then he didn't set the world alight, but he was off the pitch before Aus got much ball. There's nothing like kicking someone when he's down is there? Next you'll take points from AAC for the time wasted lying on the pitch...

Well done South Africa, but the real test of your progress comes next weekend.

Posted 10:30 01st October 2012

sandal says...

Wow. One 7, for someone who lasted 40 minutes, and a couple of 6s.

Someone wasn't impressed.

If you consider par to be 6/7, then 12 of the 15 starters were below test standard.

Posted 02:15 01st October 2012

new_j4a says...

@georgesmith, posting the drivel you post is part of your therapy, right? Hope they find a cure soon....you are the epitome of a stuck record. Do you sometimes see a wistful look in your mother's eyes?

Posted 06:31 30th September 2012

new_j4a says...

@armchaircritic nice to see how quickly you abandon your "14 ugly sisters" comment to climb on the bandwagon.....leaning which ever way the wind blows?

Posted 06:26 30th September 2012

tweedledee49 says...

georgesmith says... "shoot him!"

do the whole world a favor and shoot yourself.

Posted 04:54 30th September 2012

KiwiLad says...

Ravaged by injuries, Toxic fumes flowing from Quades overactive Playing at Loftus, the W@allabies were always up against it.

Argentina will be rubbing their hands with Glee.

Posted 23:58 29th September 2012

philipjfry says...

Very harsh call on Polota-Nau. He made yards, hit the rucks hard and looked up for the challenge. I'm probably biased though, 'cause I cream for his 'fro and tash combo. My God, he's a man's man's man.

Posted 23:51 29th September 2012

Carpelone says...

Beale is class at 10.

Posted 22:37 29th September 2012

Carpelone says...

Too many top players missing affected the overall performance of the team.

Ioane tried to bully Habana at the beginning, but it was Bryan who had the last smile.

Australia lack depth, this is true but also, like the Boks, manage players poorly.

You can find the best of Australia these days by googling Kilie Minogue insurance.

Posted 22:26 29th September 2012

georgesmith says...

Only the rugby know-it-all idiots will blame this thrashing on injuries.

Posted 21:50 29th September 2012

georgesmith says...

N. Sharpe, D. Dennis and R.. Deans should all get a big fat zero. Bloody hopeless clowns. They do not meet the standards of Test rugby. Why couldn't N.Sharpe last the full 80min and contribute... ans... his past his prime and is a carry bag for the team. Shoot him!

Posted 21:49 29th September 2012

armchaircritic says...

Not so much beaten as wrecked...

Posted 20:54 29th September 2012

melkdave says...

Well the player ratings arev ery revelaing,The team was dire in the extreame really,even before the in game injuries.Still with the injury list even before this weekend,made R.Deans job a nightmare.A full strength wallaby side would be a different propasition.

Posted 20:36 29th September 2012

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