Opinion Iain PaytenSenior Sports Reporter August 30, 2026 — 1:37pm August 30, 2026 — 1:37pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. AAA 1. Isaac Kailea 5.5 In his first Test in 630 days, the mobile NSW prop looked to use his feet
Opinion
1. Isaac Kailea 5.5
In his first Test in 630 days, the mobile NSW prop looked to use his feet at the line with early carries. But was one of many to find it hard going against the Pumas’ defence and otherwise had limited involvements in his 40 minutes. Set-piece work was solid.
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa 7.5
BPA is a good example of how front-rowers age like a good red wine. A Malbec, perhaps. At the age of 30 and with a stint in France under his belt, the former garbo is now in the form of his life on all fronts: lineout throwing, scrummaging, defence, ball carrying and he’s also a consistent try sneak. Effort to be in the left corner to score in Jujuy deserves a toast.
3. Allan Alaalatoa 7
There is a good argument that an eyes-up back such as Ryan Lonergan should be looked as Wallabies captain when Harry Wilson doesn’t play. But then you see Alaalatoa lead like he did against the Pumas, and you understand why he gets the armband. Has a rare combination of calm and menace, and hits like a train.
4. Josh Canham 7.5
Quick reminder this guy was only playing in his seventh Test in Jujuy. It’s easy to overlook, given how much impact Canham brings as an athletic carrier, lineout operator and as one of the most effective ball handlers, as well. Always seems to have an offload ready.
5. Jeremy Williams 7.5
Returned to the starting line-up and turned in another high-quality 80-minute performance. At 113kg, Williams is on the lighter end of the scale for tighthead locks in Test rugby, but the Wallabies’ scrum doesn’t seem to suffer. His mobility and skill pay dividends in open play: see try assist for BPA.
6. Tom Hooper 8
Was always a workhorse but Hooper has become more of an athlete since joining Exeter, and that was shown with an 80-minute effort featuring 14 runs, 11 tackles, two key turnovers and the try that ultimately secured the game. Coming off a long break with a shoulder injury, it was very impressive and combined with the other two below, it makes picking a back row difficult for Les Kiss next week.
7. Fraser McReight 8
McReight has already had a superb year and the headgeared flanker now routinely gets ranked in the world’s top five back-rowers. And fair enough. Yet another all-singing, all-dancing display: one try, 11 carries, team-high 14 tackles and a late steal that denied Argentina a potential win.
8. Rob Valetini 8.5
Are we totally sure big Bobby V isn’t part-machine? Back in the starting side after a rest in Townsville, and Valetini turned yet another powerhouse performance: team-high 17 carries and equal team-high tackles (14) with McReight, and a goal line turnover (we’ll forget the kick). Back at his favoured No.8 spot and such a luxury to have a guy who’ll quietly roll his sleeves up every single time he plays.
9. Ryan Lonergan 6.5
Solid effort in the first half, albeit with some missed tackles and a rare shank off the kicking tee. Left the field early in the second half after a head knock when making a try-saving cover tackle, but it was also due to a flu.
10. Carter Gordon 6.5
Nice to see Gordon getting through games and threatening the line with his under-rated running game and his sharp passing. Scored a good try with a hard line. Gordon’s kicking game is a strength, but we haven’t seen it in full flight yet. Short kicking might have been effective against the Pumas’ line speed, too.
11. Harry Potter 5
A day of limited involvement for Potter on the left wing, with only a handful of runs and mixed results in the aerial contest space. Points off for spending 10 minutes in the sin bin after going for an unwise, low-percentage intercept with one hand.
12. Hunter Paisami 6.5
Plenty of tough carries, including the support run that saw Paisami break through and led to Hooper’s crucial try. Ikitau is every chance to return next week, but this has been an important block for Paisami to prove himself indispensable to Les Kiss’s squad going forward, even after he moves to Japan next year.
13. Isaac Henry 5.5
A quiet day was always going to come for Henry after the high-octane opening two Tests. The ball simply didn’t come his way much, in attack or defence. But nor did he make any major mistakes.
14. Max Jorgensen 7.5
Jorgensen made his name by being an open-field whiz, with incredible feet and deception. But Test rugby doesn’t give you as much space, so the youngster is now providing value in other ways: he is the Wallabies’ best man in the air, he is strong carrying in traffic and he can also muscle up in defence, as seen in Jujuy.
15. Tom Wright 5.5
Another who was solid but not spectacular, with mixed kicking outcomes and some wayward passing. Wright at his best is always threatening around the ball, particularly for the Brumbies, and it’d be good to see him lurking in closer channels for the Wallabies.
Reserves
16. Billy Pollard 6.5
Always brings energy and fast leg-speed from the bench, but his massive hit in the last 10 minutes – that preceded McReight’s steal – showed the ex-leaguie still lurking in Pollard.
Angus Bell 6.5
17. Solid 40-minue effort from Bell, but didn’t get the ball enough to see any of his trademark wind-up carrying.
18. Massimo De Lutiis 6.5
The Reds love big “Mass” for his power in contact, and we saw some of that with plenty of carries and some post-gainline metres, to boot. So far, showing he can handle Test rugby.
19. Lachlan Shaw 5.5
Has a bit of Canham about him in the athleticism, but Shaw is also learning on the job at Test level; he’d take back a loose flick pass in the second half that scuttled one attacking move.
20. Charlie Cale 6
Limited minutes from the bench, but grabbed a couple of pressure lineout wins in the dying stages that helped get Australia home.
21. Tate McDermott 6
Steady performance from the reserve halfback when he replaced Lonergan, but box kicking game is still not his forte, and the only glimpse of McDermott’s lethal running game led to a held-up.
22. Ben Donaldson 5
Almost 20 minutes on the field as a replacement for Gordon and Wright, but a missed conversion for Hooper’s try kept the game tight, and pushing a pass in the dying moments from a line break – that led to a turnover – was also unnecessary.
23. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii 7
Clearly was out to make an impact with his 15 minutes on the field, and the highly paid recruit did that with four carries and the second-most metres run in the whole team. Looked threatening.
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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