Player ratings: Wobbly win
A win is a win, no matter how ugly or boring. However, it was tough sitting through 80 minutes of this kick-fest.
In the end Australia beat France 6-0 and while there will be some cliched plaudits from both teams, it doesn't do much for individual performances.
The mere fact that two penalty kicks won the game only tell part of the story.
In the end the missed kicks outnumbered the successful ones by two to one – which tells you that not even the kicking was very good.
Jan de Koning rates the Australian players!
15 Israel Folau:
Got his team on the front foot early in the game and always looked threatening with ball in hand, but needs to work on his kicking game still.
6/10
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper:
His workrate was poor in a first half, when kicking was the dominant feature, but almost created a try early in the second half by chasing a kick at goal.
5/10
13 Tevita Kuridrani:
Was not really in the game at all and came as no surprise when he was replaced.
5/10
12 Matt Toomua:
Showed some great innovation and was solid on defence, but butchered a try with illegal tactics and also kicked a penalty too long.
5/10
11 Nick Cummins:
Was solid under the high bombs and had a few promising runs. Could improve his workrate when the ball doesn't come his way.
5/10
10 Bernard Foley:
The best part of his performance was his defensive game, although he tried a few runs without much success.
6/10
9 Nic White:
He has a good kicking game and tackles well, but spoils it by behaving like a spoilt brat all the time.
4/10
8 Ben McCalman:
Worked hard on defence and made plenty of carries, but conceded a few penalties that handed momentum back to the French.
6/10
7 Michael Hooper (captain):
He still has the highest workrate of all the Australians, but missed four tackles in the first half. Improved his defence after the break.
7/10
6 Scott Fardy:
His workrate is simply amazing – sometimes the work a player does off the ball is more valuable than what he does with ball in hand. There was enough tackles and carries to have made him a valuable asset.
7/10
5 James Horwill:
Still plays like an angry and frustrated old man, getting penalised too often.
4/10
4 Rob Simmons:
Seemed way off his game, but did make a good few tackles and took his line-outs.
6/10
3 Sekope Kepu:
His tackle count made him Australia's most valuable player. Also got the better of the French replacement prop.
8/10
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau:
His energy levels were way down and there was little to be seen of him for most of the match – apart from the occasional tackle.
4/10
1 James Slipper:
Was under pressure in the scrums till the French replaced their props in the second half. Made a heap of tackles though.
6/10
Replacements:
16 Nathan Charles (on for Polota-Nau, 74th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
17 Pek Cowan (on for Slipper, 71st min):
Not enough time to be rated.
18 Laurie Weeks (on for Kepu, 74th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
19 Luke Jones (on for Horwill, 59th min):
His effort didn't equal his impact. It is a pity he slipped so many tackles.
5/10
20 Scott Higginbotham (on for Fardy, 66th min):
No impact at all.
4/10
21 Nick Phipps (on for White, 78th min):
Not enough time to be rated.
22 Kurtley Beale (on for Foley, 60th min):
Not the type of game where his skills were used to their full extend, although he did have one very good run.
6/10
23 Pat McCabe (on for Kuridrani, 60th min) :
No impact whatsoever.
4/10
