Australia-born fullback Mack Hansen acquired Participant of the Match honours after starring in Eire’s 46-19 Quilter Nations Sequence win over the Wallabies in Dublin.
Len Ikitau and Fraser McReight scored a attempt every because the Wallabies made it a five-point sport on the break, but it surely was one-way site visitors throughout a dominant second half from the Irish.
The Wallabies have received two of their final 9 Assessments, with yet one more probability to bounce again subsequent weekend towards France in Saint-Denis, of their ultimate match of a 15-game season.
Right here’s how the Wallabies rated.
1. Angus Bell – 6/10
Bell at all times works exhausting within the Wallabies jersey and this efficiency was no completely different. The front-rower loved some good moments in assault, defence and across the breakdown, whereas additionally contributing to a reasonably secure Wallabies scrum. After working the ball 3 times and making seven tackles, Bell was changed after 53 minutes
2. Matt Faessler – 5
The Wallabies’ lineout gave the impression to be a energy all through the opening half hour, however the set-piece started to unravel on both facet of the break. Faessler had throws picked off within the thirty fifth and forty second minutes, as Ireland remained answerable for the match’s momentum. To his credit score, Faessler was one among Australia’s extra energetic gamers in each assault and defence earlier than being changed throughout the second time period.
3. Allan Alaalatoa – 5
Quite a lot of Bell’s efficiency abstract applies to Alaalatoa, with the tighthead prop making 5 tackles and carrying the ball a number of instances in a 60-minute shift. Australia’s scrum was higher with somebody of Alaalatoa’s calibre on the park. It was an average-to-good efficiency from Alaalatoa, who did his job with out standing out an excessive amount of.
4. Jeremy Williams – 4
Williams has featured in all the Wallabies’ 14 Assessments thus far in 2025, with the second-rower named to begin for the fourth look in a row. Whether or not or not fatigue is an element for the Wallabies after a mammoth worldwide season is for the coaches to ponder, however Williams wasn’t capable of hearth in a game-changing manner towards the Irish. The lock registered one lineout take throughout the first time period, earlier than ending with two carries and 4 tackles.
5. Tom Hooper – 7.5
Hooper had solely began different Assessments at lock in 2025 earlier than working out onto the sphere on the Aviva Stadium. The Exeter Chiefs ahead completed with probably the most carries and tackles out of any Wallaby, having fought tirelessly to make some sort of an impression. 4 months on from his Participant of the Match efficiency towards the British & Irish Lions in Sydney, Hooper was definitely one among Australia’s finest but once more.
6. Rob Valetini – 7
‘Bobby V’ had probably the most carries out of any participant and had produced a game-high stops in defence by the twenty fifth minute. It was a promising begin to the match from Valetini, who gave it completely every part towards the Irish. The 2-time John Eales Medallist completed as one among Australia’s finest on each side of the ball, reaching double digits for tackles accomplished throughout slightly over 60 minutes on the park.
7. Fraser McReight – 6.5
Fraser McReight has been a shining mild for the Wallabies even when outcomes haven’t gone their manner in latest weeks. There have been shades of that but once more towards the Irish, with the openside flanker menacing the Irish breakdown, however failing to get the identical stage of poaching buy over the ball. McReight received one turnover throughout the first half.
The 26-year-old’s crowning second throughout the 80 minutes was a decisive rating simply earlier than the break, because the Wallabies decreased the deficit to simply 5 factors. Whereas McReight was saved unusually quiet at instances, the flanker nonetheless showcased shades of supreme high quality towards a world-class Irish outfit.
8. Harry Wilson (c) – 6
Wilson led by instance as a top-five Wallaby for each tackles made and carries, having been made to work for each metre past the achieve line – averaging about 2.7 metres per carry. With a taxing worldwide season nearly at an finish, the Wallabies skipper was bested by a world-renowned Irish backrow.
9. Jake Gordon – 5
This was Gordon’s third consecutive begin alongside a distinct halves associate, having mixed with Tane Edmed and Jake Gordon in latest weeks. The scrum-half was capable of present fast ball in assault, however some field kicks drifted barely too far for teammates to chase.
10. James O’Connor – 5
James O’Connor was known as into the Wallabies squad after final weekend’s defeat to Italy, and the skilled playmaker was tasked with steering the facet towards Eire. Named at fly-half instead of Carter Gordon, the 35-year-old didn’t overplay his hand – guiding the group across the park with easy and composed rugby.
Eire fly-half Sam Prendergast put a superb shot on O’Connor contained in the opening 10 minutes, forcing a knock-on, which was one of many No. 10’s early errors. However the Leicester Tigers pivot added invaluable expertise to this facet, serving to the Wallabies settle after Eire’s red-hot begin to the competition.
11. Harry Potter – 6
Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney mentioned it finest throughout the second half, mentioning that it’d been a combined efficiency from Potter. The Wallabies wing had probably the most carry metres out of any participant by the 60-minute mark, but it surely wasn’t all clean crusing. Potter made some errors but additionally recorded probably the most variety of tackles out of any Australian again by the hour mark.
12. Len Ikitau – 6
It didn’t take the John Eales Medallist lengthy to make an impression towards the Irish. Ikitau marked his extremely anticipated return to the Take a look at enviornment with a attempt within the seventeenth minute, beating a Sam Prendergast sort out try near the road. Eire had been main 14-0 earlier than that rating, making it an completely essential attempt because the Wallabies’ trustworthy dared to dream of a comeback.
That was a transparent spotlight from Ikitau’s efficiency. The midfielder failed to face out throughout the subsequent 60 minutes, ending mid-table for carries and solely making a few tackles within the opening hour of the competition.
13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – 4
Rugby Australia’s Rookie of the 12 months received extra turnovers than anybody else, however the centre wasn’t capable of make a telling impression apart from that. Suaalii was quiet in assault with seven carries, and the twin worldwide completed forty first out of 43 gamers for tackles accomplished. There aren’t actually any highlights or lowlights to talk of, for probably the most half, Suaalii simply wasn’t capable of become involved throughout a tricky evening for the Wallabies.
14. Filipo Daugunu – 5
Daugunu solely had a handful of alternatives to assault with the ball, and whereas the precise winger proved exhausting ot carry down initially, Eire’s defensive wall wasn’t troubled an excessive amount of. The 30-year-old had run the ball 5 instances for 22 metres earlier than leaving the match for a HIA across the hour mark. Whereas Daugunu returned, the Wallaby wasn’t offered with any alternatives to assault in house.
15. Max Jorgensen – 5
It was a troublesome begin to the Take a look at for the Wallabies fullback, who had a second to overlook whereas making an attempt to collect a free ball. Jorgensen spilled it near Australia’s attempt line after a hoofing punt downfield from Sam Prendergast, and Mack Hansen reaped the rewards – the Australia-born fullback crossing close to the sticks quickly after.
Jorgensen produced an essential defensive effort within the twenty seventh minute, beating James Lowe to a grubber that very nicely might’ve led to a different Irish attempt, however the 21-year-old was pushed again into the in-goal. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however after such a promising begin ot the worldwide season on the wing, ‘Jorgo’ couldn’t fairly hit those self same heights out the again with three turnovers within the first half alone.
Replacements
- Billy Pollard – 5
- Tom Robertson – 4
- Zane Nonggorr – 4
- Nick Frost – 4 – proven a yellow card.
- Carlo Tizzano – 6
- Ryan Lonergan – 5
- Tane Edmed – 5.5
- Andrew Kellaway – 5
