Howl of The Underdog: Rate Every Wallaby, Coach & Ref
The Wallabies have just faced the world’s No. 1 side in their own backyard. Some will have earned their post-match tinnie. Some will have a lot to answer for. And some might just surprise you.
We’re giving you the floor. Rate every Wallaby on the park — the full 23, starting XV through bench — plus Les Kiss’s coaching calls and referee Andrea Piardi’s whistle. Use our Underdog Rating System (see below) and let us know exactly where you’d score each player. The results will be collated and presented along with Mirt’s ratings.
Underdog Rating System:
1: Deadset liability
2: Absolute Barry Crocker
3: A bit of a dog’s breakfast
4: Yeah, nah, not his best
5: Punched the clock
6: Earned his post-match tinnie
7: Gave it a red-hot go
8: Absolute ripper
9: Played a deadset blinder
10: John Eales
/form
Ben Casey
Ben Casey is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Underdog. An outback country publican and independent sports analyst, Ben brings decades of grassroots rugby experience and tactical knowledge to his reporting. Frustrated by mainstream clickbait, he specializes in deep-dive Super Rugby analysis, honest match reporting, and holding Australian sports governance to a higher standard.
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Well struth. I’ll be busy tomorrow. School day and a game to review.
Wrocks was ok Suaalii was shite Lonergan man of the match till he tasted cheese Scrum failed against their firsts Wilson had a monster game but yellow Williams absolutely fantastic Donaldson very average Jorgensen is our no.1 winger BPA great Kiss – lucky
G’day Mirt. On the scrum we actually held up well against them until Ross came on.
Was more about Bell, Paenga-Amosa and Salakaia-Loto being substituted by scrummagers not as strong as them that got them their dominance. Numerical advantage then just made the difference even more obvious
Ah yes. That’s what I was kind of saying. Though the first 3 scrums with the bomb squad were equally contested, then the first with Ross was where the Boks found ascendancy. The question for me is “were they just being lazy at the end of a long couple of months and decided it was time to play” or was it due to our bench being sub-par. Probably a bit of both.
Another thing I thought before the team was announced was whether to go with Bell and BPA on the bench to counter exactly what happened. Or did Kiss get it right by playing a stronger scrum to start with and get a lead?????
I question Pollard as a selection since he is not a strong scrummager especially against Boks. Against Arg and other teams without a strong scrum he is fine as a bench option.
Yeah, solid until the 66th minute. Then it was monstered. Salakai-Loto and McReight were still on at that stage. Valetini and the front row had been swapped. Incidentally Mostert was on for his 3 minutes of illegal time.
Mark N would be better in the air but like JAS lacks top end speed. Regardless JAS is a better option on the wing than Potter or Daugunu. My preference would be Jorgenson and Pietsch (Mark N would be better).
JAS was ok IMO, certainly better than at 13, more suited to wing, able to use his aerial skills. IMO even more suited to 15 though. Not a patch on the unfairly much derided Folau though. JAS certainly not value for money. I would have Pietsch on the wing ahead of him, and probably have JAS on the wing. How much better is the attack with Ikitau at 13 though.
The line is busy this morning. Mostly people ringing to ask for Ben’s number. So many people looking to thank him for caring so much about the game, and to offer him some feedback.
![The Underdog sports news article thumbnail for Wallabies Player Ratings in Bledisloe 1 2026 at Eden Park[cite: 5], featuring Harry Wilson rated 8/10[cite: 5] and Ryan Lonergan rated 3/10[cite: 5] in gold Wallabies jerseys[cite: 3, 5].](http://theunderdog.news/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/wallabies-player-ratings-bledisloe-1-2026-harry-wilson-ryan-lonergan-768x429.jpeg)
you have 12 in the scoring twice
I did see that after the fact haha. Will do this every game now, so will get better I promise
Wallabies were good for 60…ref too..last 20…comms…ref…and wheels fell off…thankfully someone still knows how to ride a unicycle…
It was a wild old game
Well struth. I’ll be busy tomorrow. School day and a game to review.
Wrocks was ok
Suaalii was shite
Lonergan man of the match till he tasted cheese
Scrum failed against their firsts
Wilson had a monster game but yellow
Williams absolutely fantastic
Donaldson very average
Jorgensen is our no.1 winger
BPA great
Kiss – lucky
G’day Mirt. On the scrum we actually held up well against them until Ross came on.
Was more about Bell, Paenga-Amosa and Salakaia-Loto being substituted by scrummagers not as strong as them that got them their dominance. Numerical advantage then just made the difference even more obvious
I think he meant the bench scrum when he said thier firsts, since he didn’t say their starters, it was clear the best scrummagers were on the bench.
Ah yes. That’s what I was kind of saying. Though the first 3 scrums with the bomb squad were equally contested, then the first with Ross was where the Boks found ascendancy. The question for me is “were they just being lazy at the end of a long couple of months and decided it was time to play” or was it due to our bench being sub-par. Probably a bit of both.
Another thing I thought before the team was announced was whether to go with Bell and BPA on the bench to counter exactly what happened. Or did Kiss get it right by playing a stronger scrum to start with and get a lead?????
totally agree
I question Pollard as a selection since he is not a strong scrummager especially against Boks. Against Arg and other teams without a strong scrum he is fine as a bench option.
But who else have we got ?
Fainga’a ?
Dolly ?
Faessler ?
Faessler would be better in the scrum ahead of Pollard.
I think Les wanted a bit of balance with Bell/BPA starting and then Tupou/Salakaia-Loto off the bench.
Then Canham’s late injury forced a shuffle.
In the end it worked out.
Eventually hoping we get Skelton starting and then Lukhan off the bench. Have a big TH lock for the full match.
Absolutely what I thought as well.
We still held their bench scrum (the first choice) well (even after BPA got subbed) until we replaced Bell also.
Scrum contest swung completely after the 62 minute.
Nche, Marx, Louw, de Jaeger all came on at the 47th minute
Yeah, solid until the 66th minute. Then it was monstered. Salakai-Loto and McReight were still on at that stage. Valetini and the front row had been swapped. Incidentally Mostert was on for his 3 minutes of illegal time.
Sualii and Jorgo owned the air space. That was worth its weight in gold
exactly why I have been saying JAS needs to be in the back 3 rather than at centre.
But like we got smashed in the scrums when they finally switched on, how would our wingers have gone against Arendse and Kolbe?
Is Nawaqanitawase going to be even better?
Mark N would be better in the air but like JAS lacks top end speed.
Regardless JAS is a better option on the wing than Potter or Daugunu.
My preference would be Jorgenson and Pietsch (Mark N would be better).
Saw Pietsch live on the weekend. He’s the business. Perfect passionate attitude.
We won all our scrums. I thought they went well, though lucky to keep parity when Bell went off
JAS was ok IMO, certainly better than at 13, more suited to wing, able to use his aerial skills. IMO even more suited to 15 though. Not a patch on the unfairly much derided Folau though. JAS certainly not value for money. I would have Pietsch on the wing ahead of him, and probably have JAS on the wing.
How much better is the attack with Ikitau at 13 though.
Is the game over already?
I just wanted this up so people knew it was here as its the first one
Yeah we won 32 27
The last ten minutes might still be going. I’ll call Piardi and check
The line is busy this morning. Mostly people ringing to ask for Ben’s number. So many people looking to thank him for caring so much about the game, and to offer him some feedback.
Always good on the feedback haha. Means people care. ANd to be fair, I am half full when doing Underdog stuff haha
Wasn’t he talking about BOK? Haha