Player ratings: Getting the wobbles
The 13-41 defeat showed the Wallabies still have to follow up one good performance with another – a lack of consistency that could cost them dearly in the World Cup, which gets underway next month.
Apart from having failed to follow up their Rugby Championship triumph – they have not won the Bledisloe Cup for more than a decade – Australia also have questions surrounding a key position, flyhalf.
Jan de Koning rates the Australian players!
15 Israel Folau:
Brilliant in the air, as you would expect, and made good ground on a number of occasions. However, he slipped a crucial tackle that cost his team. However, deservedly got a consolation try near the end.
7/10
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper:
A real trooper that never shirks the hard work and is an invaluable player to the Wallabies.
7/10
13 Tevita Kuridrani:
Made some early inroads into All Black defensive line, but his defensive frailties came back to haunt him.
5/10
12 Matt Toomua:
Disappeared for long periods and missed as many tackles as he made. Bad day at the office.
5/10
11 Henry Speight:
Didn't see much of the ball. Made all his tackles, but his workrate off the ball leaves much to be desired.
5/10
10 Quade Cooper:
Looking for miracle off-loads, but not always as accurate as he should have been. His biggest contribution was a cheap shot on Aaron Smith that cost him 10 minutes in the sin bin and his team three tries. Was subbed straight after his 10 minutes were up.
0/10
9 Nic White:
Annoying and irritating with his antics off the ball, had a kick charged down and missed a couple of tackles, but his service was acceptable and he had a few breaks.
6/10
8 Wycliff Palu:
Was subbed at half-time after an iffy first half – some physicality, good defence and one line-out won.
5/10
7 Michael Hooper:
Left the field before half an-hour was up for a concussion test and certainly looked out-of-sorts. He continued to work hard and proved invaluable on defence, slipping just one tackle.
6/10
6 Scott Fardy:
Worked hard on defence, took some line-outs (even stealing one from the All Blacks) and had a couple of decent carries.
7/10
5 James Horwill:
Looked slow and ponderous. Was okay in the close exchanges, but failed to make ground with ball in hand.
4/10
4 Will Skelton:
Physical as always, but conceded a few penalties and was subbed at half-time. Just couldn't stay with the pace of the game.
5/10
3 Sekope Kepu:
Solid in the scrums and worked hard on defence. His workrate let him down.
6/10
2 Stephen Moore (captain):
Beginning to look like a frustrated old man, always looking to get involved off the ball and missing tackles. A day he would like to forget.
4/10
1 Scott Sio:
Dominant in first scrum, penalised in the next few and also missed far too many tackles.
4/10
Replacements:
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau (on for Moore, 67th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 James Slipper (on for Sio, 51st min):
Decent work on defence, but struggled in the scrums.
5/10
18 Greg Holmes (on for Kepu, 67th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Dean Mumm (on for Skelton, 41st min):
Was an improvement – brought additional value in the line -outs and worked hard on defence.
6/10
20 Kane Douglas (on for Horwill, 62nd min):
Gave new meaning to the work impact – brought nothing to Australia.
4/10
21 David Pocock (on for Palu, 41st min):
May have missed a couple of tackles, but at least brought some energy.
6/10
22 Matt Giteau (on for Speight, 48th min):
Brought the spark that was missing in the Wallaby backline and made all his tackles.
7/10
23 Kurtley Beale (on for Cooper, 57th min):
One half-decent run. Steady rather than spectacular.
6/10
