Dave Rennie’s team is full of character. That’s for sure.
The Wallabies have once again won a Test they had every right not to.
After losing their best defender Samu Kerevi, they lost their constant hooker Dave Porecki all week and their talismanic captain Michael Hooper 24 hours before kick-off.
Then, compounding the problems, they lost their quarterback and more experienced fullback Quade Cooper, who was sent off and may not play for the Wallabies again. It was a devastating blow, and his loss could be felt all the more next year if, indeed, the extraordinary playmaker does not recover in time to play in his third World Cup.
What made their 41-26 come-from-behind win even more extraordinary was that they trailed 19-10 at halftime and 26-17 at halftime.
Still, after a fabulous second half, where the Wallabies got back to basics and made a number of Argentinian set-pieces, notably in the maul (well done Dan McKellar), but the Wallabies won and won a bonus point with the last one. game of the game
The likes of Jed Holloway and Fraser McReight, who were quiet in the first half and also gave away penalties, had second halves to remember as they played their part to make it happen for the ‘Hoops.
Here are our player ratings from the 15-point win, which saw the Wallabies go top of the Rugby Championship table.
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The Wallabies celebrate after defeating Argentina in Mendoza. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
Tom Wright – 8
There’s something beautiful about watching Wright play outside back. He is such a gifted runner and playmaker that he looks like he could do something with every touch of the ball.
Importantly, the mistakes have been largely ironed out and the Brumbies back should be named in the No.15 jersey again after an excellent first outing on paper.
Wright’s running game was again a feature and it was on display for the first time in the 24th minute.
Later, in the 43rd minute, he combined spectacularly with Cooper from a quick set-up, lied, ran and dispossessed Jordan Petaia and won the ball back before rolling it back upfield where Holloway almost scored .
This was a good first performance from the new winger.
Jordan Petaia – 7
He did little wrong, but was a bit quiet, largely due to the clumsy new combos at 9-10-12.
But Petaia scored after taking a good line from Cooper.
His spot-kick in the 55th minute, however, was something to learn from. The kick has to be taken with purpose and instead of seeing the man open and unmarked in midfield, Petaia, under pressure, smashed it and Argentina countered and scored. It was some excellent running rugby but the kick allowed Cheika’s side to counter and counter.
His slips catch, break and kick Nick Frost in the 84th minute, which also set up the Wallabies’ fifth bonus point try.
Physically, Petaia also stood the test.
Len Ikitau – 6.5
Strong on both sides of the ball, Ikitau appeared in lights when he scored.
But before that he had a couple of good runs, including a backdoor strike to the always impressive Rob Valetini, and defensively he was strong.
Wallabies bag late, bonus point late try | 00:43
Paisami Hunter – 7
In the absence of Kerevi, Paisami had a reasonable performance.
The thickness of the backline at times stemmed from the new combinations as well as the switch from Cooper to Reece Hodge.
But Paisami regularly challenged the line, including his last second line break and a pinpoint pass to Ikitau to score.
Earlier, in the sixth minute, he got through in defense when Pablo Matera scored, but that was because his forwards had left a gaping hole around the goal line near the goal line/A couple of good displays and comes to the end of the second part.
Marika Koroibete – 6.5
Busy as ever and showing good knowledge of the laws of the game (clear release and go), Koroibete hardly put a foot wrong against Argentina.
However, he was pinged for an extra kick in the 30th minute, but it was probably in an attempt to buy his teammates more time after Wright’s inside ball.
Quade Cooper suffered a devastating injury against Argentina in their comeback match. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Quade Cooper – 6.5
Forced off in the 48th minute with a serious Achilles injury, Cooper’s season has ended in the most devastating of circumstances.
There was the good: his beautiful ball to Petaia to score, the line jump through the middle and the twinkling feet.
There was the bad: offloading into contact in the first minute after Nic White’s penalty kick was charged.
But there was also voice, direction and purpose in what was his first game in months.
Cooper also showed some physicality in defence, while he was once pinged at the breakdown, but was engaged and ever-present.
Nic White – 6.5
Offloaded in the opening minute, it looked like it could be a long day ahead for the Wallabies.
White’s kicking game was a feature and twice the half-back managed to get an incredible angle with his clearance kicks past the half.
Rob Valetini – 9
The driving force behind the Wallabies’ victory, Valetini was everywhere.
Valetini was strong and regularly drove the Wallabies over the line.
It also started from the start, with a flurry of executions in the eighth minute, which allowed Cooper to score the first three points.
Some bad hands hurt in the 25th minute, but otherwise Valetini was the Wallabies’ best ball runner.
Australia’s Rob Valetini (C) was one of the best for the Wallabies. Photo: AFPSource: AFP
Fraser McReight – 7.5
Stepping in at the last minute for Hooper, McReight showed just how capable he is on his first Test outing.
After a frustrating first half, which included not passing the ball after Cooper’s breakdown and getting pinged at the breakdown for the onside tackle, McReight had a second half to remember.
He scored a try from a lineout play and regularly got his hands on the ball as well. Physics McReight stood up.
From a balance perspective, McReight seemed to compliment Valetini and Jed Holloway very well.
Jed Holloway – 6
By his own admission, Holloway had an unlucky first half, but improved as the match went on.
He got a couple of pings for penalties: jumping through the lineout in the fifth minute, tackling in the 36th and landing on the lifter in the 40th, although the latter was unlucky and won the ball.
But Holloway’s second half was excellent and featured some incredible hands in the cover, dragging McReight over the try line and some physicality in defense as well.
Matt Philip – 6.5
A strong lineout steal in the 31st minute, Philip’s lineout work was strong.
His loose tackle on Marcos Kremer in the 51st minute came back to fortunately not chase him down as the Pumas number 10 knocked it down cold with the line in sight.
Darcy Swain and Fraser McReight had days to remember at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on August 6, 2022 in Mendoza. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Darcy Swain – 9.5
The Wallaby’s best game.
Swain was brilliant in the lineout, on the maul, in touch, and even allowed space to open up for Cooper to touch.
The block back even got on the ball in the 17th minute to win a penalty as a matter of course.
Allan Alaalatoa – 6
Penalized once again the scrum for walking the scrum
Alaalatoa managed a grunt and set the foundations in place for Tupou to explode next.
Folau Fainga’a enjoyed his best performance in a Wallabies shirt. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
Sailing – 9
The Force-bound whore doesn’t always get a rap for her line-up work, but Fainga’a’s pitching was excellent all day and her attention to detail was evident.
The Wallabies line-up was a weapon and Fainga’a was the epicenter, scoring a try, contributing a penalty try and another to McReight.
James Slipper – 7.5
The Wallabies captain didn’t necessarily take the game by storm, but he gets another point for his leadership and ability to keep the team focused after Hooper’s late withdrawal.
The scrum worked really well with him, while defensively he was strong.
Slipper’s decision making on when to take the points and when to go for the lineout also paid off.
James Slipper receives the Puma Trophy after winning the Rugby Championship against the Pumas of Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on August 6, 2022 in Mendoza. Photo: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
RESERVATIONS
Lachlan Lonergan – N/A
It came at the end of the 72nd minute, Lonergan was busy and did little wrong.
Matt Gibbon – N/A
On debut, Gibbon replaced Slipper at the death.
In the 75th minute they pinged him in the scrutiny.
Daniel Tupou – 7.5
A couple of brilliant runs in defense and a great mix-up, Tupou had a huge influence on the game after coming on in the 53rd minute.
Nick Frost – 6.5
A real player for the future What about the pace to curl Petaia’s shot in the 85th minute?
Rob Leota – N/A
Another one for being late. Leota had a heavy load.
Pete Samu-6
He played his part in the second half as the Wallabies made the most of their momentum.
Jake Gordon – N/A
Gordon came on in the last 10 minutes but got away with a flat ball to Paisami, who sent Ikitau through.
Reece Hodge – 7.5
He kicked his goals, was composed with and without the ball. Work done.
But did the forward pass to Koroibete in the 67th minute show his shortcomings as a player? His body shape was interesting to observe.
Either way, Hodge again proved how important he is to the Wallabies team.