Australia A player ratings: Australia’s second string fell to a 38-17 defeat at Twickenham Stoop in their final match of their UK tour.
While the visitors showed promise in patches, particularly through standout performances from Corey Toole and Luke Reimer, England A’s clinical finishing proved too much.
Here’s how rated Australia A:
1. Harry Hoopert – 6.5
A solid presence at the scrum early on but didn’t impose himself around the park as much as needed. Gave way after 60 minutes as the game began to unravel.
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England vs Australia epic – as it happened | RPTV
Relieve all the drama from England and Australia’s epic Autumn Nations Series encounter. Watch more clips like this on RugbyPass TV
2. Josh Nasser – 6
Struggled to find rhythm in the lineout and was out-muscled by England’s maul. Subbed off at halftime in a tough outing.
3. Massimo De Lutiis – 6.5
Just about survived in the set-piece against Asher Opoku-Fordjour but lacked the punch to trouble England’s forwards in open play. Held his own before being replaced after 60 minutes.
4. Ryan Smith – 6.5
Tidy in the lineout and industrious in defence, but offered little in terms of breaking the game open. A quiet shift before being subbed in the second half.
5. Josh Canham – 6
Put in a decent shift but was another who failed to spark anything dynamic. Worked tirelessly in the trenches but was ultimately outshone by England’s power and pace.
6. Tom Hooper – 8
A big unit and one of the hardest workers on the field, Hooper led the defensive line with his physicality and commitment. However, he’ll rue his pack’s inability to match England’s intensity in key moments.
7. Luke Reimer – 9
The pick of the forwards and Australia A’s turnover king. Scored an early try, tackled ferociously, and showed the kind of leadership Australia A desperately needed. A bright spot in an otherwise frustrating day.
8. Joe Brial – 6.5
Had a few strong carries but wasn’t able to provide the consistent go-forward the team needed. Subbed after 51 minutes with little impact. Left very much in the shade by Saracens’ Tom Willis.
9. Ryan Lonergan – 6.5
Controlled the tempo well in the first half, but his influence waned as the game wore on. His kicking game was serviceable but couldn’t spark much for the Aussies.
10. Tom Lynagh – 7
Managed the game effectively in the first half with his boot, steering Australia A to a slim lead. Faded after the break, but still showed flashes of his talent.
11. Darby Lancaster – 6.5
Had a few moments of promise but was largely kept quiet by England’s solid defence. Couldn’t find much space to make a meaningful impact.
12. Hamish Stewart – 7
Worked hard defensively and found his feet in attack on occasion. A reliable option in the midfield even if he spent much of his time here tackling his guts out.
13. Joey Walton – 6
Outshone by Oscar Beard. Struggled to gain any traction and failed to capitalize on rare opportunities out wide.
14. Corey Toole – 8.5
The standout back for Australia A. Looked dangerous every time he had the ball and worked tirelessly off the ball. Unfortunate to be let down by his teammates on several occasions.
15. Jock Campbell – 6.5
A mixed bag. His looping pass that led to Muir’s intercept try was costly, but he otherwise offered a steady hand in defence and some spark in attack as the Aussie’s top carrier with 36 metres.
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16. Lachlan Lonergan – 6
Added energy off the bench but couldn’t turn the tide in a struggling pack.
17. Tom Lambert – 6
Held his own in the scrum and got through some work in the loose, but not enough to shift momentum.
18. Rhys Van Nek – 8
Made a significant impact off the bench, scoring a try and injecting some much-needed power into the scrum. A bright spot in the front row.
19. Angus Blyth – 6
Reliable at the lineout but struggled to assert himself in general play.
20. Rory Scott – 6
Worked hard defensively but couldn’t impose himself in attack.
21. Issak Fines-Leleiwasa – 6
Tried to inject some pace late in the game but was unable to make a major impact.
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – 7.5
Managed to beat two defenders in his 23 minutes on the field.
23. Ollie Sapsford – 6.5
Made a couple of nice touches but didn’t see enough ball.
Joey: Absolutely, their contributions were vital. Luke’s defensive skills complemented Corey’s attacking mindset perfectly, allowing us to maintain a balanced approach. Playing alongside them was a pleasure; their energy is contagious and it really lifted the overall performance of the backline.
Web Editor: It’s a pleasure to have you both here for this interview about Australia A’s recent match against England A. Let’s start with the scrum performance; Harry, you rated the scrum as a 6.5, so can you give us your thoughts on how they did? And Massimo, how did you find the opposition’s scrum in comparison?
Harry: The Australian scrum did hold up well in the early stages of the game, but as the match went on they struggled to keep up with England’s power and accuracy. Perhaps it was a result of fatigue or a lack of familiarity with each other, but they could have done better to dominate that aspect of the game.
Massimo: England’s scrum was definitely stronger, particularly in the second half when they were able to use their maul to great effect. Our boys stood firm for most of the match, but we couldn’t match their physicality and ultimately it cost us.
Web Editor: Moving on to lineout issues, Josh, you also rated the lineout as 6. Did the lack of a reliable hooker impact the team’s performance? And Massimo, how did you find defending against England’s driving maul?
Josh: Yes, definitely. Losing Jordy Petaia to injury early on really affected our lineout stability, and it seemed to snowball from there. The jumpers were inconsistent and England was able to take advantage of it. Defensively, it was also tough with their strong carriers like Tom Willis and Sam Simmonds making inroads into our half.
Massimo: Ryan Smith tried his best to fill in at hooker, but it’s not his natural position. The driving maul was an issue for us all game, they were well-drilled and we couldn’t seem to stop them. It’s something we’ll have to work on in training.
Web Editor: Luke Reimer and Corey Toole received high praise for their performances. Can you tell us what made them stand out from the rest of the team? Joe and Joey, how did you find playing alongside these two in the backline?
Joe: Luke and Corey are both very tenacious players, always looking for work and making the hard yards. Their acceleration and elus
