Player ratings: The Great Oz Escape

The Wallabies showed plenty of guts, and rode their luck, to beat the Springboks 11-9 in their dramatic Rugby World Cup quarterfinal in Wellington on Sunday.

Despite being forced to make a staggering 174 tackles – to the Boks’ 53 – and being shaded in both the possession (56% to the Boks) and territory (76% to the Boks) stakes, the Wallabies dominated just one area of play; the breakdown.

Whilst some might point to Kiwi referee Bryce Lawrence for his interpretation on the floor, David Pocock and co. rode their luck and played to the whistle.

Pocock, in particular, was immense – as the watertight Australian defence also deserves a mention, where the hard-hitting No.7 also led the charge – just ahead of captain James Horwill and flanker Rocky Elsom.

Another statistic worth mentioning is the ‘Time in opposition 22’ figure. The Boks spent 12 minutes and thirty seconds in Australia’s 22-metre area… the Wallabies spent three minutes and 31 seconds in SA’s 22.

Enough said?

We rate the Australian players:

15 Kurtley Beale:
Ripped the Bok defence apart in the 13th minute with a stunning counter-attack. He was always a threat on attack – making 83 metres with ball in hand (most in that one run!) – and didn’t do too badly on defence either or when he put boot to ball.
7/10

14 James O’Connor:
Didn’t have too many chances on attack, but popped up nicely at first receiver at times and defended his wing very well. It was his goalkicking which helped the Aussies through – missing just once (with a conversion) at goal from three attempts.
7/10

13 Adam Ashley-Cooper:
Wasn’t seen much on attack, but made his tackles.
6/10

12 Pat McCabe:
There was a question mark over his inclusion ahead of Berrick Barnes but he stood up well on defence – putting in some big hits. No real chances on attack.
5/10

11 Digby Ioane:
Made one or two darts with ball in hand but looked a wee bit rusty after his long lay-off. He will be a major weapon come next week.
6/10

10 Quade Cooper:
A mixed bag from Australia’s key playmaker… most of which was not good. He dropped the first kick in his direction (as he made two handling errors in all) and threw some wild passes and was also caught in possession a few times. He will be stronger, however, for this come next weekend.
4/10

9 Will Genia:
Australia’s little general made a few uncharacteristic errors – dropping passes and having kicks charged down. His defence was good, however – including a superb ball-‘n-all tackle on his opposite number in the first half.
6/10

8 Radike Samo:
Powerful with ball in hand – making five surges in all – and controlled the ball well at the base of a scrum which went backwards for most of the night. It was his line-out jump – and take – which led to the match-winning penalty.
6/10

7 David Pocock:
What can one say? Yes, he got away with murder at the breakdown but he played to the whistle and disrupted SA’s go-forward ball when it mattered most throughout. He effected four turnovers and made a staggering 26 tackles.
9/10

6 Rocky Elsom:
Lost the ball forward on attack in the first quarter, when Australia enjoyed their best period (after their try). Wasn’t seen too much – and lost a line-out ball – but can you argue with 22 tackles?
6/10

5 James Horwill (captain):
Struggled in the line-out as the Wallabies lost five balls on their own throws. But he led from the front in every other department – also scoring the only try of the match. Made 22 tackles. As he said in the Australian team huddle afterwards: “****ing so proud of you!”
7/10

4 Dan Vickerman:
Was clearly picked to mix it up front with his fellow countrymen and he stood up well physically. Was also over-shadowed in the air, like the rest of the Wallabies jumpers.
6/10

3 Ben Alexander:
Like the line-out, the Aussie scrum did not function well. In fact, it was dominated. There was just one scrum penalty against them but could well have been more.
4/10

2 Stephen Moore:
A forgettable night at the line-outs, as the Wallabies lost five off their own throw. However, his defence was huge – making 22 tackles – and he effected some crucial turnovers.
6/10

1 Sekope Kepu:
A miserable night for him and his fellow prop as the Bok scrum dominated the Aussies. He did make 14 tackles, however.
4/10

Replacements:

16 Tatafu Polota Nau (On for Stephen Moore, 63rd min):
Not enough time to be rated.

17 James Slipper (On for Sekope Kepu, 69th min):
Not enough time to be rated.

18 Nathan Sharpe (On for Daniel Vickerman, 53rd min):
The line-out did not get any better when he came on, but he did not stand back to the Boks in those crucial final minutes.
6/10

19 Ben McCalman (On for Radike Samo, 72nd min):
Not enough time to be rated.

20 Luke Burgess:
Not used.

21 Berrick Barnes (On for Pat McCabe, 52nd min):
There was one superb kick to the corner which put Australia back in South Africa’s half and saw them win the penalty which gave them the victory. Added some composure to the Wallabies backs. A well-timed substitution, even if McCabe did look injured.
7/10

22 Anthony Fainga’a (On for Kurtley Beale, 75th min):
Not enough time to be rated.