PLAYER RATINGS: Gareth Davies puts in crucial display as Wales secure crucial Pool D win but Bernard Foley disappoints for Australia
Wales saw off a spirited Australia fightback to secure a vital victory in Pool D at the Rugby World Cup.
Having held a 23-8 half-time lead after tries from Hadleigh Parkes and Gareth Davies, Warren Gatland‘s side fought off a Matt To’omua-inspired comeback - with Dane Haylett-Petty and Michael Hooper crossing - to win by four points.
Sportsmail’s WILL KELLEHER has all the Wales ratings from the Tokyo Stadium while NIK SIMON rate the Australia side.
Gareth Davies scored a first-half try and put in a fine display as Wales beat Australia in Pool D
15 Liam Williams 7.5 Game-winning turnover right at the last to make sure Wales won. What a battler.
14 George North 7 Used far more than against Georgia as a powerful strike-runner, and made some belting breaks.
13 Jonathan Davies 8.5 Lovely hands as ever in midfield, and as one of the key leaders an outstanding effort.
12 Hadleigh Parkes 8 (Watkin 70 7) Sensational leap to out-jump Koroibete for his try – carried well too, especially considering he has a broken right hand.


Hadleigh Parkes scored the first try of the match and carried effectively before being replaced
11 Josh Adams 7 Quieter than against Georgia, and almost yellow-carded for a high-hit, but a fine Test player.
10 Dan Biggar 7 (Patchell 28 8) Went off after felling Kerevi and concussing himself. But was in man-possessed mode before that, and hit lightning quick drop-goal.
9 Gareth Davies 9 (T Williams 70 7) Amazing intercept summed up a cheeky, box-office performance. Such a threat in attack – and even when defending, such is his propensity for pick-offs.
1 Wyn Jones 7 (Smith 49 7) Tipped on some cute passes, and whacked Wales forwards in attack.
2 Ken Owens 7 (Dee 67 6) A couple of line-outs went astray in slippery, humid conditions. Made 15 big tackles in defence though.
3 Tomas Francis 7.5 (Lewis 64 6) Scrum solid with all three won on own put-in and one won against the head.
4 Jake Ball 7 (Shingler 67 6) Strong work in the scrum and some bashing hit-ups to gain Wales momentum in the first half, but tired as it wore on.


On his record 130th cap, Alun Wyn Jones put in a true captain’s performance for Wales
5 Alun Wyn Jones 8.5 Record 130th Test and made 23 tackles amid the second-half siege. Needed all his leadership skills to guide Wales through the mayhem.
6 Aaron Wainwright 8 (Moriarty 49 7) Compared to Sam Warburton, and you can see why. Tackles, turnovers, hands and carries – he looks the real deal already, and is only 22.
7 Justin Tipuric 8 Silky, classy and kept Hooper and Pocock largely at bay – running out of superlatives for the openside now.
8 Josh Navidi 7 Light on metres made per carry – with two per charge – but 15 tackles in the back-row and contributed to breakdown well.


Bernard Foley struggled for Australia and was replaced by Matt To’omua after the second half
Advertisement

















