Wallabies vs Fiji: Player ratings

Sat, Jun 10, 2017, 11:39 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
The Wallabies notched up a five try to two win over a flamboyant Fijian side. In a highly entertaining match both side went from end to end on numerous occasions but the home side proved to be too good on a beautiful afternoon in Melbourne.

The Wallabies featured plenty of fresh faces today in their first Test of 2017.

Here's how each player fared.

Tom Robertson 6

Was responsible for a huge first scrum and second and third scrums were just as solid. Didn't have a great deal of the football and when he did, struggled to make an impact.

Tatafu Polota-Nau 7

Defended well, as he always does. Lineout functioned without fault while he was on field. Also carried well in a strong performance before being replaced after 53 minutes.

Allan Alaalatoa 8

Dominated at scrum time and was directly responsible for a scrum penalty early in the second. Carried the ball as well as any forward and only real negative was a bad missed tackle on Ben Volavola in the second term.

Sam Carter 6

Got the dirty work done in and around the breakdown but didn’t exactly impress himself on the game. Subbed at the 50 min mark.

Adam Coleman 8

Adam Coleman was among the Wallabies' best. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyBlew a lineout in the first half but was typically the primary option outside of that and provided great service to Genia. Along with Hunt, Australia's best defender. Whacking blokes is his specialty and he did plenty of that. Among the best on ground.

Ned Hanigan 6.5

Couple of solid early carries but had a bad miss for the first Fijian line break. Had an impact with touches but not the kind of imprint we have come to expect from him at Super Rugby level. A solid debut.

Michael Hooper 7

As reliable as ever with a couple of sharp bursts with ball in hand and made his presence known at the breakdown. Not his best game but he rarely has a bad one.

Scott Higginbotham 7

Superb offload to put Folau away, who gave Speight the final pass for his first try. Carried well early but didn't have any of his game breaking runs in a quiet second term.

Will Genia 7

Was quick to the ruck, made sure Foley had plenty of clean ball and did his usual sniping without having a massive impact. Subbed for Powell with 12 minutes to play.

Bernard Foley 8

Orchestrated proceedings well all night and his kicking - both in general play and off the tee - was elite. Read the play to pick off an intercept but ran out of gas quick smart. Threw an absolutely superb pill to put Folau over. One of the best on ground.

Henry Speight 7

Scored two tries with two solid finishes, both the result of some great team play in the lead up. Dropped a couple of balls, though, and didn't hunt much work infield.

Karmichael Hunt 7.5

Karmichael Hunt was the best of the debutants. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyReally good debut. Looked at home in the second playmaker role with a couple of nice balls in second half. Cleaned up a loose ball when Fiji looked a chance of scoring. Was leading the defensive line, as we have become accustomed too.

Tevita Kuridrani 6.5

Ran some solid crash ball lines and toiled away for 66 metres from nine runs. Defended well but he's had bigger games in the gold jersey.

Dane Haylett-Petty 6.5

Had a pair of sharp line breaks and threw the final pass for a try but just like the man inside him, was good without being great.

Israel Folau 9

Israel Folau was at his destructive best today. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart WalmsleyScored early after a pinpoint cross field kick from Foley and threw the last pass for Speight’s first try. Followed that up with a great break from the back when there wasn't much on before copping a stiff yellow card. Nearly set up an absolute pearler of a try with a ridiculously athletic offload but Kuridrani's foot found the sideline. Had a double after he changed his line on the fly and Foley threw a perfect pop pass to put him through. Racked up 11 runs for 129 metres, five tackle busts, three linebreaks, four offloads and the Speight try assist. Arguably his best game in 2017.

Reserves (rating NA for players that played less than 20 minutes)

Rory Arnold 6.5

Came on and had a few nice runs, tackles, without being particularly impressive.

Stephen Moore 6

Dropped his first touch but fell over the line off the back of a strong rolling maul. Otherwise solid cameo.

Sekope Kepu 6.5

Didn't get near the footy in 23 minutes but scrum held up well when he was on.

Toby Smith 6.5

Came on and had some solid impact defensively while holding up the scrum.

Quade Cooper NA

Average clearing kick was his first notable touch but otherwise was relatively good in running the attack with Foley on the pine. Only on for 15 minutes.

Joe Powell NA

Came on and had an average box kick and even worse pass to start off. Looked a bit nervous but wasn't on long enough to judge.

Richard Hardwick NA

Came on and had a pilfer in first minute but wasn’t on long enough to get a good gauge.

Reece Hodge NA

Was only on for 15 minutes and had just the one run.

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