Australia Player Ratings vs Ireland – Autumn Nations Series

12/02/2024 04:32 AM

By George Davis

Ireland battled to a bruising 22-19 victory over Australia at the Aviva Stadium to sign off Head Coach Andy Farrell with an impressive autumn before he joins up with the Lions next year.

The Wallabies started strong as Noah Lolesio kicked over three points early on and were then the first to get a try on the board. Jake Gordon put up a huge spiral bomb into the Irish 22 which found its way into Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's hands, Joe Schmidt’s side then worked the ball from one touchline to the other before Max Jorgensen could score in the corner.

With the Aviva faithful behind them Ireland backed their patience and found spaces that started to appear in the Wallaby defence. A tip on to Joe McCarthy put the men in green just metres out before Josh van der Flier burrowed his way over from close range.

Lolesio and Sam Prendergast then traded penalties each side of halftime before Andy Farrell’s team found an opening. A lovely first phase move saw Bundee Aki halted by Suaalli before a few phases later Caelan Doris saw a gap open up in front of him to score.

Lolesio then knocked over two more penalties which meant that the pressure was back on the home team, replacement hooker Gus McCarthy getting held up before he found his way over just a few minutes later on the back of a marauding rolling maul to give Ireland the win.

IRELAND: 22

TRIES: 3(Josh van der Flier 22', Caelan Doris 48', Gus McCarthy 72')

CONVERSIONS: 3 (Sam Prendergast 23', 49', Jack Crowley 73')

PENALTIES: 1 (Sam Prendergast 42')

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki; James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Cian Healy, Tom O'Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O'Mahony, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Garry Ringrose.

AUSTRALIA:

TRIES: 1 (Max Jorgensen 18')

CONVERSIONS: 1 ( Noah Lolesio 19')

PENALTIES: 4 (Noah Lolesio 9',32',54'62')

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS: 0

RED CARDS: 0

Australia: Tom Wright; Andrew Kellaway, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen; Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Jeremy Williams; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt)

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tane Edmed, Harry Potter.

Australia Player Ratings

1. James Slipper (6/10)

Like the rest of his forwards he showcased some lovely hands at the line, creating the space outside for the Wallaby speedsters to do their damage. However he was never really able to get the edge in the scrum, the veteran opting for more of an impact around the park instead.

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (6/10)

The hooker was ever consistent with his darts at the set piece and was part of a solid Australian defensive line all afternoon, a relatively successful time for the Western Force man.

3. Taniela Tupou (7/10)

The Melbourne Rebels prop almost had every props dream when he intercepted the ball on the halfway line, running 30 metres and then tried to throw a David Campese esc pass over his head that went into the arms of Sam Prendergast. Overall a powerful afternoon in the scrum and the loose for the tighthead.

4. Nick Frost (6/10)

He and his second row partner were incredibly safe in the lineout and he had the wherewithal to put his skipper through a hole in the first half and was on his shoulder to receive another pass in support. An all around impressive performance from the big man.

5. Jeremy Williams (5/10)

Williams put in a shift around the park and was ever impressive in a defensive system that caused Ireland problems. The second row was ok ball in hand but didn't do anything too impressive and was most certainly not a standout. 

6. Rob Valentini (8/10)

The big blindsight flanker was an absolute menace all game, he carried really well early on but made the wrong decision trying to force an out the back of the hand pass that went to the floor. Valentini also brilliantly read an Irish lineout move and put some huge hits in defence, one of the best back rowers on the planet right now.

7. Fraser McReight (7/10)

A warrior like performance from the 25 year old as he carried and scrapped for absolutely everything. Irish breakdowns will be happy to not see this man anymore for awhile, he would just not give up.

8. Harry Wilson (7/10)

The captain battled all game out of the limelight but found himself in when he identified a gap to go through in the first 40 before keeping the attack alive with a great clearout.

9. Jake Gordon (7/10)

The 31 year old put all his 10 years of rugby experience into this game, putting in decent clearances and dealing with some sloppy balls when it seemed to be much easier not to. Gordon also kicked a wonderful clearance kick from a tight angle in the second half when Ireland were building pressure, keeping his side in the lead at that time.

10. Noah Lolesio (8/10)

The Brumbies out half was like a maestro ball in hand for the men in gold, he pulled strings well and was perfect off the tee. The number 10 put Valentini through a gap in the first half and kept the Irish defenders on their toes all afternoon and had some excellent attacking and clearance kicks.

11. Max Jorgensen (7/10)

Mack Hansen will be happy he never has to see this man again for awhile, the winger marshalled his outside channels like a seasoned professional, you couldn't tell he was just 20 years old. He scored the Wallabies first of the afternoon, sliding over past the covering defenders to give the visitors the lead.

12. Len Ikitau (5/10)

Not the centre’s most memorable performance as Aki got the best of him for most of the afternoon. The 26 year old struggled against his opposite man in defence and never had any space to get anything out of the game ball in hand.

13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (6/10)

Ireland clearly knew the threat this man posed as he was shut down almost everytime he got the ball. However he has started to grow into this Wallaby defensive system and will prove himself to be quite the operator . The former NRL man was once again dominant in the air to and put a great hit on Bundee Aki to stop him five metres out.

14. Andrew Kellaway (7/10)

Got done on the outside early on by Hugo Keenan and you immediately got the thoughts it  could be a long 80 minutes. But to his credit he straight away found his way back to knock the ball out of Keenan hand's and also held up McCarthy over the tryline.

15. Tom Wright (7/10)

What a huge boot this man has on him, saving the Aussies when they were under the pump. He was also a great link man between the inside and outside channels showcasing his superb handling but could never find the gaps he is so used to finding this afternoon.

Replacements

16. Billy Pollard (6/10)

Pollard kept the lineout stats ticking over nicely and was a nuisance shooting up out of the line to put some pressure on the Irish receivers with some lovely chop tackles too.

17. Isaac Kailea (6/10)

The replacement was a late call up for Angus Bell on bench who was ruled out through illness before kick off and came on with 30 minutes to go. The prop couldn't find much parity in the scrum but kept the visitors’ defensive system going strong.

18. Allan Alaalatoa (6/10)

The brother of Leinster player Micheal Alaalatoa managed to gain a bit of an edge at scrum time against Ireland’s most capped player in Cian Healy but never got any change out of the referee's whistle. Once again he was part of a brick wall that at times Ireland had no answer too,

19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (7/10)

Tackle, tackle, tackle was all that he did but boy did he do it well, a leader on kick chase and making the Irish rucks really scrappy and giving his time time to reset

20. Langi Gleeson (6/10)

Was part of an all red scrum cap wearing back row and contributed well ball in hand in the little time he had on the pitch

21. Tate McDermott (5/10)

Smashed by Taghd Beirne at one point, still got ball away

22. Tane Edmed (N/A)

An unfortunate debut for the replacement fly half, off for a HIA after a tackle went wrong after just a few minutes

23. Harry Potter (N/A)

Came on with little over a minute to go and couldn't work any magic.

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