Wallabies player ratings: Playmakers recover from ‘disasterclass’ but Joe Schmidt’s withdrawals prove costly
Wallabies player ratings vs Lions
The British and Irish Lions secured a series win over the Wallabies in dramatic fashion on Saturday, as Hugo Keenan went flying over the line for the perfect finish to the second Test.
The Wallabies performed admirably, but failed to close the game out, losing 26-29 to the visitors.
Here’s how we rated the hosts:
Backs
15 Tom Wright: At his hot-stepping best at times and was rewarded with a simple run-in to score his try during the Wallabies’ mid-first-half romp over the Lions. The full-back got heavily stuck into the match, providing much of the go-forward in the backline, but was guilty of missing a few tackles in a game where every moment mattered. 7
14 Max Jorgensen: Stuck to his wing to the benefit of his side, making regular yards down the narrow. His memorable moment being an elusive weave, sending four Lions players chasing their own tails early into the first half. He looked sharp throughout as he threatened every time he had the ball. 6
13 Joseph Suaalii: He failed to make much of an impact in the first Test, but made sure he was noticed this time. The league convert terrorised the Lions’ line with each carry – the first resulting in a Wallabies penalty, the second storming through the centre of the field to set up Wright for his try. 7
12 Len Ikitau: Some superb deft touches to bring his outside men into the game, and was one of the Wallabies’ biggest influencers with 14 carries. He played most parts perfectly, but will be gutted to have missed the vital tackle on James Lowe which eventually resulted in a Lions comeback try to bring the scores to just two points. 7
11 Harry Potter: Kept largely quiet last week, and forced off early with an injury this week. You could see the anguish and frustration on his face as he realised he would be able to play no further part in the match. 4
Half-backs
10 Tom Lynagh: After struggling heavily in the first Test, Lynagh was hoping to rectify his reputation with some front-foot ball. The early impact from his forwards gave him exactly that. He looked more assured as he knocked over two kicks to give the Wallabies the early lead. His performance continued in the same vein for much of the first half, guiding his team on each effective attack and not being afraid to throw the longer passes when needed. He faded when the Lions took control, however, and crucially missed touch from a defensive penalty which kept the Lions on the front foot. 7
9 Jake Gordon: Potentially fortunate to have kept his spot in the starting team following Tate McDermott’s impressive performance off the bench last week. His try, to put the Lions into panic mode, was a moment of sheer class, however. His performance one week on was like night and day, as he dictated play in front of him and scored a sublime poacher’s try midway through the first half. 8
Forwards
8 Harry Wilson: A quieter first half compared to his teammates, but he really came alive in the second. In a half where gaps became narrower and scores became rarer, Wilson threw himself into each carry and tackle with increased velocity as he dragged his team on the right path. 6
7 Fraser McReight: One of the rare few standout stars from the Wallabies disasterclass last week, but one of the quiet members in their loss this week. Although he didn’t do anything particularly wrong, his removal on the 60-minute mark was barely noticed – an indication of his impact on the field. 5
6 Rob Valetini: A huge presence in both attack and defence. His sizeable influence on the team was obvious, and one that the Lions simply did not appear prepped to handle. Removed after 40 minutes, the Wallabies’ control of the game disappeared alongside him. 7
5 Will Skelton: The expectations were huge for the return of the former captain, and he certainly delivered. Using his 6’7″ frame, Skelton ploughed into contact with the force of the freight train, causing the Lions to trip and fall backwards. It was the return of the giant Skelton and Valetini that enabled Lynagh to have the front-foot ball he needed in the first half. Also removed from play shortly into the second half, causing potentially the final nail in the coffin for the Wallabies’ series hopes. 8
4 Nick Frost: Dominant in the breakdown and the main man in defence, Frost was a major nuisance as the Lions struggled to put together solid phases of play. He also ruled the air with his lineout dominance, crucial to the Wallabies’ control of the match. 7
3 Allan Alaalatoa: Another star to be mystifyingly dragged off at half-time. A huge presence in the front-row who solidified the already behemoth-sized scrum. No issues with his display, a strange call to remove him so early. 6
2 Dave Porecki: The set-piece king kicked off with a solid first lineout before charging down the touchline, a confident over-the-top second throw and a secure third one on his own five-metre line. Porecki put his marker down in the contact and led the set-pieces with expert precision. 8
1 James Slipper: A poor showing in the first Test match was very unlike the veteran Wallaby. This time, he was back to his barnstorming best. He kicked off the Wallaby demolition of the Lions in the first half with a tidy close-quarters finish in the left-hand corner, and was involved in almost everything good about the Wallabies – a true warrior. 7
Replacements: McDermott made an unexpected early arrival onto the field after the injury to Potter. Despite not being a natural winger, he looked incredibly comfortable out wide – notably knocking over the giant Jack Conan on one gallop down the touchline. Plenty of changes were made at half-time, but all seemed to counteract the impressive start the Wallabies had, had. It was almost as though they were pre-planned with no flexibility to the actions on the field. 5
READ MORE: Ronan O’Gara: ‘The best thing I ever did was sign Will Skelton’