Scotland v Australia: Scotland player ratings

If you don't take you chances in Test match rugby then you are not going to win games

30 October 2022 David Barnes International, Match Reports, News, Scotland 24

Scotland loose-head Pierre Schoeman is tackled by James Slipper of Australia. Image: © Craig Watson - www.craigwatson.co.uk

15. Ollie Smith – 8

Marked his Murrayfield debut as a Scotland player with a superbly taken try. Kicked cleverly and accurately, was the game’s top carrier with 71 metres made, brave under the high ball, and made his tackles. Stuart Hogg is back next weekend, but head coach Gregor Townsend may view Fiji as an opportunity to give the young pretender some more time in the saddle as he seeks to build a depth leading into next year’s World Cup. [Tom Banks 6]

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14. Darcy Graham – 5

Collected a high ball in the opening minute, tidied up a loose pass from Kinghorn in the second minute, got back to collect McDermott’s hack ahead in the third minute, and made a good tackle on Tom Wright in the fourth minute – then was hardly seen again until after the hour mark when he collected an Australian clearance and made 10 yards before being swamped by gold jerseys. Chronically under-utilised. [Andrew Kellaway 6]

13. Mark Bennett – 6

Pressurised Bernard Foley into the fumble which led to Kinghorn’s hack ahead and score at the start of the second half, but very quiet by his own standards with ball in hand, [Len Ikitau 6]

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7

Played an important role in heavy traffic during the lead-up to Smith’s try and ran hard like an established inside-centre whenever required, but will have nightmares about that first half fumble with the try-line at his mercy. [Hunter Paisami 6]

11. Duhan van der Merwe – 6

Was more successful than Graham in finding ways into this game, with one great take off a high ball and rampaging run past four Wallaby defenders bringing Murrayfield to its feet, but he couldn’t quite get clear on that occasion. Letting a loose Bernard Foley penalty bounce into touch with 12 minutes to go was a costly error because it gave Australia the attacking line-out from which they won the game. [Tom Wright 6]

10. Blair Kinghorn – 7

The jury remains out. Some nice moments, such as his delayed pass to set up Smith’s try, the long miss-pass which should have sent Tuipulotu over and, of course, his brilliant breakaway try at the start of the second half, an inch-perfect into the corner a few minutes after that and a fine 50-20 on the hour mark – but you need a goal-kicker you can rely on when it really matters. Fundamentally, does he scare the opposition like ‘he who cannot be named’? [Bernard Foley 7]

9. Ali Price – 6

Won a cute penalty at the back of a ruck which allowed Kinghorn to put Scotland 15-6 ahead on 53 minutes. His kicking from the base was a mixed bag, with some bang on the money but a few others simply handing possession back to the Wallabies. [Tate McDermott 7]

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1. Pierre Schoeman – 7

An obstruction penalty allowed Australia to strike back after Smith’s early try, then coughed up another bizarre penalty for trying to dive over a tackle, but also won two huge turnovers on his own line in the first half. Worked hard around the park, carrying more often (13 times) than any other forward in the match, and making more ground (37 metres) than any other forward apart from Rob Valetini (50 metres). Also made an impressive nine tackles. But he did have a bad dropped ball at the start of the second half. [James Slipper 8]

2. Dave Cherry – 5

Caught out when Tate McDermott skipped past him at the start of that early snipe and his failure to roll away led to the penalty with allowed Foley to put the visitors into a half-time lead. The line-out wobbled but he kept working hard in the tight and loose before being replaced by George Turner just before the hour mark. [David Porecki 6]

3. Zander Fagerson – 6

As aggressive and as hard-working as ever in the loose. Honours shared in the set scrum. [Allan Alaalatoa 6]

4. Sam Skinner – 4

Battled hard for 22 minutes before being forced off early with a foot injury. [Nick Frost 8]

5. Grant Gilchrist – 6

Not as prominent in the loose as we know he can be, and line-out frustrations led to a pulling-down penalty. Didn’t manage to hold onto what could have been Ali Price’s try-making pass after van der Merwe’s second half break, although it ended up being academic because Glen Young was penalised for his clear-out in the lead up to that moment. [ Cadeyrn Neville 6]

6. Jamie Ritchie – 7

A typically abrasive and hard-working performance from Scotland’s new captain, particularly in his ferocious breakdown work which won two turnovers. Should he have instructed Kinghorn to go for the posts instead of the corner in the first half, when Scotland earned a series of penalties but failed to trouble the scoreboard operator? Hindsight is a wonderful thing! [Jed Holloway 6]

7. Hamish Watson – 6

16 tackles made and one missed. But gave away the penalty which allowed Foley to kick his team to glory. Head coach Gregor Townsend argued afterwards that it was the wrong call from the match officials, because the ball had come out the back of the maul by the time the Scottish flanker advanced, but it was surely a time to err the side of caution. [Michael Hooper 7]

8. Matt Fagerson – 7

Never takes his foot off the gas, but won’t feel like he managed to impose himself as we know he can. [Rob Valetini 7]

Replacements

16. George Turner – 4

Two dodgy line-out darts and an off-the-feet penalty after replacing Dave Cherry on 59 minutes.

17. Jamie Bhatti – 5

Replaced starting loose-head SSchoeman for the final quarter and got stuck in.

18. WP Nel – 6

Demonstrated his determination to make the most of his Indian summer as an international rugby player with an energetic 21 minutes which belied his 36 years.

19. Glen Young – 7

An eventful afternoon after replacing Skinner midway through the first half. Held up over the line soon after joining the fray, and was sin-binned when his bicep (crucially not his shoulder) made contact with Tate McDermott’s head as he cleared out a ruck in the second half. His work-rate was superb.

20. Jack Dempsey – 5

Having come on against the country he represented 14 times between 2017 and 2019 when it was 15-6 to Scotland, he will be disappointed to have ended up on the losing side. Welcome to life as a Scotsman, Jack!

21. George Horne – 5

Not much opportunity to make his mark.

22. Ross Thompson – N/A

Stripped off with five minutes to go but didn’t make it onto the park. As a frontline kicker, it might have been handy to have him taking that late penalty.

23. Damien Hoyland – 4

Replaced Graham with five minutes left on the clock.