The Kangaroos weren’t clinical by any means, but coach Mal Meninga would be happy with several aspects of his team’s 36-18 win over New Zealand.
The bench were outstanding for Australia, with the interchange forwards of Pat Carrigan, Lindsay Collins and Harry Grant starring.
Read on for our Kangaroos player ratings
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1. JAMES TEDESCO – 8
Placed a perfectly weighted kick to set up the first try of the game. “He put it on a plate for his winger,” Cooper Cronk said. Was very busy as always, finishing with 156 running metres – a game high.
2. DYLAN EDWARDS – 7
Dropped a sitter to give NZ possession 10 metres out from the Kangaroos line in first half. Scored his first representative try in the 50th minute after some lovely lead up work from Tabuai-Fidow. He and Cam Murray led the Aussies with four tackle busts. Once again showed he belonged at this level.
3. HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW – 8.5
Set up two tries on the night. Gave a smart pass back to Lindsay Collins on the inside for the team’s second try. “That’s a peach of a pass,” Steve Roach said. He then put on a lovely move and drew two defenders in before throwing a lovely ball to Edwards for a second half try. Made a couple of strong defensive stops on opposite number Joey Manu.
4. KOTONI STAGGS – 7
Not nearly as damaging as he was in his Kangaroos debut a fortnight ago but still handed in a solid outing and defended very well.
5. VALENTINE HOLMES – 8.5
Wasted no time in his return game, scoring the first try when chasing down a lovely grubber. Australia looked threatening nearly every time they went down his right edge. Kicked 5/6 with the boot for a personal haul of 14 points. Didn’t put a foot wrong in what was his first game in three months.
6. CAMERON MUNSTER – 7
Poured on plenty of pressure on club teammate Jahrome Hughes, forcing a couple of errors. Didn’t have his usual impact but was targeted in defence and answered the call, making 19 with no misses.
7. DALY CHERRY-EVANS – 7
Did his job and led the team around well. Wasn’t afraid to run the ball and picked up some handy metres.
8. JAKE TRBOJEVIC – 6
Solid without being great. Probably loses his spot next week when Hass and Fa’asuamaleaui return and due to the form of Pat Carrigan and Lindsay Collins.
9. BEN HUNT – 6.5
Wasn’t really sighted until scoring a try from dummy-half very late in the game. Made no mistakes in a typically solid game.
10. THOMAS FLEGLER – 6
Didn’t have the early impact of Haas and Tino from two weeks ago and made two errors but did have some strong carries in his 35 minutes on the park.
11. CAMERON MURRAY – 8.5
Scored a try in his sixth straight Test match with a late consolation four-pointer. He had one of his better games this season, running for 125 metres and four tackle busts in an 80-minute effort. 27 tackles without a miss is no mean feat either.
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12. REUBEN COTTER – 8
Tireless workhorse in an 80 minute performance against a bruising pack, easily leading the game in tackles (42). Hard to knock.
13. ISAAH YEO – 7
Impactful with ball in hand, running for 99 metres from 10 hit-ups and made 28 tackles, which was the second best mark for the Aussies.
INTERCHANGE
14. HARRY GRANT – 8
Looked dangerous and was able to do what he liked out of dummy-half and exposed the NZ middle forwards a number of times, including when finding Lindsay Collins with a terrific cut out ball to set up the Kangaroos’ third try.
15. LINDSAY COLLINS – 8.5
Scored two tries within ten minutes of entering the game midway through the first half. Not only made an impact on the scoreboard, but was damaging with every run. Outside of Joe Tapine, he was the best forward on the field in the first half. Finished the game with 115 metres and two tackle busts in addition to his two tries.
16. PATRICK CARRIGAN – 9
Provided plenty of grunt in attack in a put together an excellent body of work, running for 136 metres from 16 hit ups in just 47 minutes on the park. A inspiring stint for a team missing Tino and Payne Haas. Proved hard to stop and was one of Australia’s best.
17. NICHO HYNES – 6.5
Came on with 23 minutes to go and played the rest of the game. Tried hard and recorded a line break assist. Fell for a Nu Brown dummy and unable to stop him from short range as NZ scored late in the game. Threw a lovely pass onto Cam Murray to set up the game’s last try.
