That was an excellent peformance yesterday. Disappointing weather meant we never got to see the Australian backline functioning properly but it affected us just as much. Really top class first half performance into the wind and we closed it out well second half.
Ratings
Murphy - 7 Should have taken his try but Boss should have released the pass a phase earlier. Dealt comfortably with most kicks, despite one bad punt return from their restart in the second half. Excellent support running for his try.
Horgan - 7.5 Good aggressive performance without the indiscipline of last week.
OāDriscoll - 7.5 Quiet again but defended with his usual aggression and the focus of the Wallaby defenders on him created the room for Murphyās try.
DāArcy - 8 Another great performance from DāArcy. Making yardage (however short) with great regularity this season and defensively very sound.
Hickie - 7.5 Took his try very well and won a first half 22 drop out to give us our first real possession. Quiet enough after that.
OāGara - 8.5 Class act these days. His kicking and distribution were first class - one bad pass to OāDriscoll was probably his only error. He even made a couple of decent breaks. Crucial role in both tries.
Boss - 7 Difficult one to judge. Heās happy to carry the ball unlike Stringer which obviously adds another dimension - that said I felt he was slow to get the ball away from rucks sometimes. Stringer tends to arrive at the ruck and fling the ball away which is one dimensional but when you go through 20 phases in the opposition 22 it can make the difference between scoring and not. Great to have blooded him though and heās streets ahead of any other rivals for the second ranking scrum half spot now.
Young - 7 One bad knock on in the first half. Not overly prominent and the scrums werenāt very clean either way. Again good to have given him game time
Best - 7.5 Good game. Throwing in was decent, as highlighted by difficulties Sheahan and their hookers had. Lots of honest hits around rucks and should be ahead of Frankie in the pecking order now.
Hayes - 7.5 Prominent again. One decent tackle in the first half and a great rip from an opponent at their 22.
OāCallaghan - 8 Great steal for the second try. Primary lineout winner on the day which wasnāt easy.
OāConnell - 7.5 Made a couple of decent carries and was part of an overall dominant pack.
Best - 9 Superb performance. Three great hits in the tackle and a couple of excellent hits with the ball. The intensity of the match dropped noticeably when he went off.
Wallace - 8 Again part of a great back row display that destroyed Australia. Did all his taks with class.
Leamy - 8 He hurt the Australians time and again with the ball and in the tackle.
