Scotland vs Wallabies: Player ratings

Sat, Nov 25, 2017, 4:51 PM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
Scotland have scored a record 53-24 win over the Wallabies at Murrayfield. Down to 14-men for half of the match, the Wallabies conceded six tries in the second half to suffer their biggest ever lost to Scotland.

The Wallabies looked completely out of gas in their 53-24 defeat at Murrayfield.

Here's how each player rated.

1. Scott Sio 7

One of the Wallabies' best. Kept putting his hand up for carries and was one of the more reliable players on the defensive end, too. Won a scrum penalty for his side in the 30th minute and that gave the Wallabies their first red zone ball since early in the half. The scrum, overall, was on top and Sio was a big part of that.

2. Stephen Moore 5

Wasn't a performance to remember in Moore's final Test but he had his moments. Botched a key throwout in the Australian 22 in the 12th minute but the effort was there - evident when he nearly pinched a turnover from the ensuing Scottish attack. Threw a haphazard pass to create turnover ball from which the Scots failed to capitalise and then overcooked a throw to Enever in the 27th minute but he almost made up for all of that with three gain line busting runs which set the platform for Australia's first try - a 21 phase movement. Subbed in the 60th minute for the final time.

3. Sekope Kepu 2

Kepu's red card was the moment that changed the match. Photo: Getty ImagesKepu knew as soon as he hit Hamish Watson in the head with a shoulder charge cleanout that he was in strife and he was rightfully red-carded. The Wallabies were immediately punished in the form of a five-pointer for Ali Price and it was all downhill from there. It was the moment that changed the game, just as the Wallabies put their noses in front.

4. Rob Simmons 5

Pinched a critical Scotland lineout in the Wallabies 22 early and provided a reliable - without being particularly dominant - source of run metres in attack. Coughed up the ball twice.

5. Blake Enever 5.5

Thought he lacked urgency in his defensive line speed early but atoned for that, making tackle after tackle in the first term. While he is always willing in that sense. he is yet to assert himself on the game on either side of the ball, his tackles often resulting in gain line ball for the Scots.

6. Ben McCalman 4

Gave away a dumb penalty with the Wallabies on a roll in the Scotland 22 late in the first term and was otherwise ineffective throughout the match. Had 13 runs for just six metres,  showing a lack of impact with ball in hand.

7. Michael Hooper 7

Michael Hooper put a big shift in at Murrayfield. Photo: Getty ImagesOne play summed up Hooper's performance tonight. When Byron McGuigan was all but assured of scoring his second try, having caught the ball unmarked on the left wing, Hooper flew across field to put in a last ditch effort to stop him from scoring. The chance he could have stopped the Scot from scoring would have been equivalent to Namibia's chance of beating the All Blacks but it was that kind of desperation that was lacking from the large majority of the Wallabies forward pack. That can't be said for Hooper, who was typically in everything on either side of the ball and had three huge carries in the lead up to Beale's try when no forward seemingly wanted to hit the Scottish line hard.

8. Sean McMahon 7.5

Set the tone in breaking a tackle with his first touch, from the kick off no less. Was, once again, the Wallabies' chief source of go forward, pumping his legs through tackles all night. Had 67 metres for 11 carries, four tackle busts and along with Hooper, was among Australia's best up front. Australia will miss him next year.

9. Will Genia 6

Had the attack humming with quick, clean ball early but didn't weave any magic to create try scoring opportunities or even line breaks, for that matter. Good, without being great.

10. Bernard Foley 7

Bernard Foley set up two tries at Murrayfield. Photo: Getty ImagesShowed initiative and ran the Wallabies attack well. Did throw the loose pass which led to Scotland's first try but quickly atoned by threading a brilliant grubber for Kuridrani's first and showcasing all of his attacking skills in seizing turnover ball, breaking the line, grubbering to himself, regaining and finding Kuridrani for his second. Still inconsistent off the kicking tee, though.

11. Reece Hodge 6

Missed an early penalty and didn't get his hands on the footy a great deal in the first term. First big moment was a brilliant high ball take but didn't really have any other big moments to speak of. Did have 67 metres from 10 carries, which is well worth noting.

12. Samu Kerevi 6

Determined with ball in hand early but slipped off a pair of tackles in an opening quarter where the Wallabies struggled to get into the game. Defensive woes continued in the second half when he fell off the tackle which allowed Huw Jones to score. Attacking numbers, as always, were solid, racking up 34 metres from his 12 touches and notably, seven tackle busts.

13. Tevita Kuridrani 7

Tevita Kuridrani nabbed a first half double. Photo: Getty ImagesDid what Kuridrani always does - ran repeated support lines to put himself in the right place at the right time. That's exactly the case for both of his tries and he pinched a turnover early in the second term, too. Uncharacteristically missed three tackles in defence.

14. Marika Koroibete 6

Even Koroibete, who has proved to be so reliable in defence this year, struggled with the pace of the game and fell off tackles early. Made a couple of poor reads which put the Scots away but he scrambled and recovered in both instances. It was his defensive pressure that created the turnover ball which resulted in Kuridrani's second and his work to get inside Kurtley Beale to hold the defence just enough to allow him to slice over and score.

15. Kurtley Beale 6

Didn't impress himself on the game at all in the first half. Only significant moments were a dropped high ball 25th minute but that quickly changed in the second term, where he had several influential touches in the lead up to his own try. From that point forward he was improved but was sin binned for a cynical bat of the ball into touch with two to play.

Reserves

16. Tatafu Polota-Nau 5

Didn't stamp himself on the match on either side of the ball, making just two tackles and not recording a carry.

17. Tetera Faulkner NA

Like TPN, was largely unseen.

18. Taniela Tupou 6

Took a while to get his hands on the ball but broke through the gain line with his tree trunk legs in both carries. Was putting in the hard yards in some maul defence, too. A solid Test debut.

19. Lukhan Tui 4

Not a good return to Test rugby. Far from the superb sub that he was in the Brisbane Bledisloe, with his most signifcant moment a very soft tackle on Scotland skipper John Barclay for the second last try of the match.

20. Lopeti Timani NA

Showed superb awareness to reach out and score - his most significant moment after being injected with 13 to play.

21. Nick Phipps 5

There weren't any howlers akin to last week but there weren't any moments of genius either.

22. Karmichael Hunt N/A

Probably his least impressive Test cap to date. Was also responsible for that remarkably soft Barclay try and didn't inject the defensive intensity we have come to expect.

23. Henry Speight N/A

Entered the fray the same time as Timani and didn't get his hands on the ball.

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