Tuesday 14 July 2026

Good morning GAGRs and welcome to another Tuesday’s Rugby News. It’s a tough week to be a Wallabies fan, as the realisation has set in that the Wallabies are very much still a work in progress and there is a lot of work to do to catch the top sides. We posed the question a few weeks ago, what would a pass mark be for these inbound tests, and while views differed, with some suggesting that a pass means winning the games against lower ranked teams, whereas some of us thought that 2 wins would show progress and growth. So how are we going, 2 weeks in and 2 losses, admittedly to the 3rd and 4th ranked sides, but these were home tests, played in front of sell out crowds. We were outlasted by the Irish, and outplayed by the French. If you want to read a summary of the French test, and all of the other matches from the weekend you can read Bris’s excellent missive here.

So where to from here? Obviously the Wallabies need to put the French test behind them, and maybe the best way to do that is by travelling 4,000km west to Perth to face the Italians, who are coming off a beat down themselves, courtesy of the All Blacks. Similar to the Aussies against France, the Azzurri were in the first half against the Kiwis, and then the second half happened. It’s fair to say that both teams will be desperate for their first win of the Nations championship and to get their seasons going. Australia are currently ranked 8th in the world, while the Italians are in 10th spot. Surely the Wallabies are due a victory, after losing 9 of the last 10, and 12 of the last 17 tests played going back to the beginning of 2025.

It’s hard to pinpoint where the decline for the Wallabies has come from, we are 3 from the last thirteen including the famous victory over the Boks at Ellis Park last year. Since then we have seen a revolving door of selections at 10 and 15 with Tom Wright out with a long term knee injury, and our 10s seeming to suffer from some sort of collective injury curse, with Noah, Tom Lynagh, Ben Donaldson, JOC v3, Carter Gordon, and Tane Edmed all getting time in the 10 jersey. So, our key playmakers, 9, 10 and 15 have been very disrupted since the Lions tests last year, maybe that has something to do the results.

What are we Wallabies fans looking for this weekend, I’d start with a win, it doesn’t have to be pretty, it doesn’t need to be by a lot of points, but it needs to be a win. A home loss to Italy this weekend, would signal that the Wallabies have stepped off the decline and into freefall.

Of course being a Wallabies test week, we will have a look at player ratings from the game against France, but before we do, a bit of a look around the grounds, including some results and standings from the hospital cup after 14 rounds, and have a look at the Junior Wallabies game against Wales.

Hospital Cup

It is getting towards the business end of the season in the Hospital Cup, with 14 rounds done, and 4 rounds left before the semi finals. A quick look at the ladder shows Brothers at the top of the table with 11 wins from 12 matches and a handy lead over Norths, Wests, and UQ.

The real battle over the rest of the season looks to be for 3rd and 4th place, with any of Wests, UQ, Easts, Bond Uni a realistic chance to make the Finals. Souths will have their work cut out for them, with a 5 from 13 record for the year, and being a game ahead of Easts and Bond. This weekend will see Easts host Bond, while UQ have the bye, so a win for either of the Tigers, or Bond will see them into the top 4.

Founders Cup

In the Founders Cup, it’s Wests who are setting the pace, with 7 wins from 7 games, ahead of Bond Uni, Easts, Sunnybank, and UQ.

Junior Wallabies

Unfortunately, the Junior Wallabies went down to Wales in the 5th place play off in a very tight 38-36 loss.

To make matters worse for the Aussies, Treyvon Pritchard is out with a broken leg after what is best described as a hip drop tackle. It’s terrible news for Pritchard who was lighting up the tournament with tries, line breaks, and try assists in every game as he built on his debut form for the Reds in Super Rugby.

From us at GAGR, we wish Treyvon a speedy recovery and a return to playing, I’d love to see him taken on the end of season Wallabies tour, as a development player.

Wallabies Player Ratings

As usual, in the week after a Wallabies test we’ll do player ratings. As a reminder, these are my ratings, based on watching the game live on Saturday, and re-watching the ball in play version on Stan couple of times, with come consultation with the G&GR crew. There was commentary on the match review on Sunday and in the Monday news, which I’ve taken into account. As always, we are using the G&GR scoring system.

10 – A legendary performance to go down in the history books
9 – Outstanding performance: Man of the match shoo-in
8 – Excellent all-round game
7 – Good game with a few sparkles
6 – Solid performance
5 – Average – a pass mark
4 – Below par
3 – Had a bad game
2 – Tell your story walking pal
1 – A complete joke
0 – Didn’t make it on, or no meaningful involvement.

Player Ratings

Angus Bell – was part of a good first half performance by the Wallabies, put in a solid shift in the scrum, and tackling, but we haven’t seen the best of his running game this year in Gold. 5

Josh Nasser – went off very early with a HIA. N/A

Allan Alaalatoa – the stats don’t seem to support the feeling that 7As put in a decent shift in the first half. Like Bell, we need more good carries from our front rowers to help out Bobby V and Harry Wilson. 5

Josh Canham – an early penalty against Canham saw play called back which led to the first French try. good in the lineout again, but doesn’t really offer a carrying option, and that is a work on. 5

Jeremy Williams – A really big effort from Williams, with carries, tackles, and effort throughout. 6

Rob Valetini – Another big effort from Valetini, including wearing a high shot that saw Meafou yellow carded. 6

Fraser McReight – was everywhere for the Wallabies, with 2 first half tries, turnovers, tackles, carries, and an incredible defensive effort to get back in front of Jalibert, saving a certain try. Australia’s best again. 9

Harry Wilson – Another huge effort from the Wallabies skipper, with tackles, carries in close and out wide. As the captain, needs to find a way to change momentum. 6

Ryan Lonergan – Provides a lot of direction for the Wallabies, and the team really struggled when he went off. His passing and kicking was good. 7

Declan Meredith – A test debut for Meredith, and some good moments, but got out paced and out enthused for an early French try, and his early exit from the game left the Wallabies without direction and structure. 5

Dylan Pietsch – Tried to get involved, and worked hard all night, but couldn’t find space. 5

Len Ikitau – Not his best game in gold, but did try hard with tackles and carries. 5

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii – Was involved in a lot of good things, but decision making in the final moments let a few opportunities slip. Would love to have seen him back himself a few more times. But a better performance than previous weeks. 5

Max Jorgensen – Tried hard, spilt a try in the first half that we would expect to see him score, and was outplayed by his opposite wingers. 4

Tom Wright – A game of 2 halves, was very good for most of the first half, but an easy to not throw it forward pass late in the first half then a yellow card in the second. 6

Brandon Paenga-Amosa – Played 77 minutes after replacing Josh Nasser early with a HIA. 7

Taniela Tupou – Good in the scrum, and did his job carrying the ball. 4

James Slipper – Is looking like time has caught up with Slipper. Was exposed defensively for a couple of very good French tries. 4

Lachlan Shaw – Was on early in second half, dropped an early ball and really couldn’t find a way to have a positive influence on the game. Part of a bench that got blown away by the French. 3

Nick Champion de Crespigny – Got his hands on the ball with carries, but couldn’t find his trade mark defensive hits, and again was part of a bench that couldn’t keep pace with the French. 4

Tate McDermott – Tried hard, but looks rusty after a long lay off. Some very good runs. But the game was over when he made it onto the park. 4

Jock Campbell – Was thrown under the bus a bit by being the back up 10, after being excellent at 15 for the Reds all season. Tried hard, but was out of position, and despite having 20 minutes on the field, the game was already over. 4

Filipo Daugunu – Came onto the field and was immediately exposed, missing a tackle for a French try. After a very good super rugby season, deserves another shot next week. 4

Team Rating

It really was a game of two halves.

First Half Wallabies – 8 – very good performance with and without the ball.

Second Half Wallabies – 3 – Yes the French were very good, but the Wallabies defensive structure was at times non-existent.

Overall – 4

Australian Player of the Match

Who else this week but Fraser McReight.

That’s a wrap

That’s it for me this week, the good thing about this tournament is that there is another round this weekend, and hopefully, hopefully the Wallabies can find a way to get a win against an Italian side that will be desperate to make it three on the bounce against the Wallabies, and secure their first win in the toutnament.

There is so much rugby this weekend, with the u20s in action against Argentina, the Super Rugby W semi finals, and of course the Nations Championship.

As always, thanks for making it this far, have a great day, and look forward to the comments.

Cheers

RAWF

Stay in the loop with G&GR