Player ratings: Red alert
The Wallabies’ woes increased as they slumped to an embarrassing 12-38 defeat to the Springboks in Brisbane on Saturday.
The hosts were battered into submission by the physical Springbok pack, which led to a cringe-worthy Quade Cooper meltdown and ultimately a first ever loss to South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.
They lacked leadership in the absence of James Horwill, with Will Genia failing to inspire his troops and making some questionable calls.
They looked panic-stricken and will need to do some serious damage control against the Pumas next weekend.
Quintin van Jaarsveld rates the Wallaby players.
15 Israel Folau
Much more involved and at ease at fullback. Solid under the high ball and prominent on attack but conceded a couple of penalties.
7/10
14 James O'Connor
Dangerous on attack and kicked well out of hand. Still struggling on defence on the wing.
6/10
13 Adam Ashley-Cooper
Took responsibility as a Test veteran with an unrivalled 12 runs but was too predictable and subsequently didn’t ask much questions of the Bok defence.
6.5/10
12 Christian Lealiifano
Kicked his goals but his handling and ball protection in contact were poor.
6/10
11 Nick Cummins
Made the one clean break only to slip and like Lealiifano, made a few elementary handling errors.
6/10
10 Quade Cooper
His selection backfired in no uncertain terms! Nothing worked for the mercurial playmaker with the Boks scoring off his mistakes. Could be cited for his cheap shot on Bryan Habana in the lead-up to Bok captain Jean de Villiers’ try.
2/10
9 Will Genia (captain)
Questionable decision-making from a playmaker and captain’s perspective.
5/10
8 Ben Mowen
Improved his workrate and had three line-out takes but was thoroughly outmuscled in the tight loose and conceded two penalties.
5/10
7 Michael Hooper
Was outclassed by Francois Louw on the day and let his team down with a tip-tackle on Habana that earned him 10 minutes in the sin bin.
4/10
6 Scott Fardy
By some margin the most industrious Wallaby forward, leading the hosts’ tackle stats (eight) and making some headway with ball in hand.
6/10
5 Kane Douglas
If not for a couple of tackles he would have gone unnoticed. Not a single line-out take and just a couple of carries.
5/10
4 Rob Simmons
Effective at the restarts, took responsibility in the line-out and put his body on the line.
6/10
3 Sekope Kepu
Got a proper scrummaging lesson and was duly plucked after 57 minutes.
4/10
2 Stephen Moore
Accurate in the line-out but poor on defence and shown up by Bismarck du Plessis in terms of workrate.
5/10
1 James Slipper
Very mobile across the park and gallant in the back-pedalling scrums.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Saia Faingaa (on for Moore, 69th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Scott Sio (on for Slipper, 64th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Ben Alexander (on for Kepu, 57th minute)
Got stuck in up front but battled and conceded a penalty at scrum time.
5/10
19 Ben McCalman (on for Simmons – blood, 30th minute; on for Mowen, 70th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
20 Liam Gill (on for Hooper, 69th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
21 Nic White (on for Genia, 69th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Matt Toomua (on for Lealiifano, 74th minute)
Not enough time to be rated.
23 Jesse Mogg
Not used.
