Cameron Munster starred in a man-of-the-match display to guide the Kangaroos to an unasailable 2-0 Ashes Series lead with a 14-4 victory in the second Test.
Game one hero Reece Walsh came crashing back to earth with a poor performance, which was riddled with errors and included a sin bin for an illegal tackle in the air on Dom Young.
And Nathan Cleary put in another solid display alongside Munster as Australia proved too strong for England in a fiery affair.
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Read on for the Kangaroos player ratings form the second Test.
1 REECE WALSH – 6
After five straight man-of-the-match performances, it had to end at some point. And it’s fair to say Walsh came crashing back to earth with a thud in the second Test.
Can’t be accused of not having a go but just way too many errors and poor execution.
From an early forward pass to a bizarre moment when he turned his back on the defence and didn’t even attempt to contest a bomb, to a late sin binning, Walsh was flat out putting a foot right.
The illegal mid-air tackle on Dominic Young while attempting to save a try that resulted in a stint in the bin just capped it off.
Only finished with 7 runs for 56m but no tries, try assists, linebreaks or linebreak assists.
2 MARK NAWAQANITAWASE – 6.5
Was never far away from the action and tried hard to make a difference.
But like Walsh had a few moments he’d like back.
While 10 runs for 97m doesn’t sound like high involvement, it was actually the most metres of any of the Kangaroo backs.
Marky Mark flick passes to himself?! | 00:25
3 KOTONI STAGGS – 7.5
Tradesman like effort in attack and defence.
Had 11 runs for 79m and came up with a big play at a crucial moment when contesting a Cleary bomb and managed to knock the ball back that resulted in a try to Hudson Young.
That took Australia’s lead from 8-4 to 14-4.
Also made 16 tackles.
4 GEHAMAT SHIBASAKI – 6
Hardly sighted for much of the match but in fairness didn’t get a lot of opportunity. Only 6 runs for 48m and 8 tackles.
5 JOSH ADDOC-CARR – 6.5
Not the type of game that brings out the best in the flying ‘Fox’ but like his effort in the first Test, Addo-Carr never stopped competing and came up with some crucial defensive plays along with 11 runs for 80m.
6 CAMERON MUNSTER – 8
A typical livewire performance from the champion five-eighth who was the deserving man-of-the-match.
Scored a terrific solo try to break the 4-all deadlock early in the second half and was a constant threat with his running game.
Finished with 94m from 12 carries along with 23 tackles.
Double movement or momentum? | 00:44
7 NATHAN CLEARY – 7.5
Didn’t dominate but played his role well, delivering with some key moments including a 40/20 and another perfectly executed bomb that landed the match-clinching try.
Only 4 runs for 29 metres but Cleary’s game management was key in the second half when the match was in the balance.
Also made to work hard in defence with 21 tackles.
8 LINDSAY COLLINS – 5
Brought into the starting team in the absence of Isaah Yeo, the veteran Roosters prop had limited impact with 3 runs for 19m and 12 tackles.
9 HARRY GRANT 7
Always probing but England did well to limit Grant’s impact. Only 4 runs for 32m but topped the tackle count with 39.
Still, a big moment in Grant’s career after captaining the Kangaroos in Yeo’s absence to secure the Ashes.
10 TINO FA’ASUAMALEAUI – 7
Only 12 runs for 89m but did the job that was required from him by taking it to an England pack that came with the intention to try and unsettle the Kangaroos.
Was aggressive from the get-go and copped a stint in the sin bin for his trouble in just the second minute, for third man in and sparking a melee.
In fairness, Tino was rushing to the defence of his skipper after Grant reacted to something in the tackle and got in a wrestle with his opposite number while on the ground.
It was a massive overreaction from referee Grant Atkins who also gave Dom Young 10 minutes to settle down.
Double SIN BIN after early Melee chaos! | 00:45
11 ANGUS CRICHTON – 7.5
Another powerful performance with Crichton’s 18 runs for 113m the most of any of the Kangaroo forwards, while 37 tackles was only bettered by Grant.
No tries this week but a quality performance all the same.
12 HUDSON YOUNG – 7.5
Capped off a rock-solid performance with the match-clinching try.
Finished with 14 runs for 111m along with 31 tackles.
Has well and truly cemented his starting spot.
13 PAT CARRIGAN – 6.5
Didn’t have his usual impact with only 8 runs for 58m and 16 tackles.
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14 TOM DEARDEN – 6
Thrown into the game in the 49th minute at lock to replace Carrigan but was moved into the halves late in the game when Walsh was sin binned and Munster shifted to fullback.
15 LINDSAY SMITH – 4.5
Didn’t get into the game until the final 12 minutes. Had 2 runs for 16m and 11 tackles.
16 REUBEN COTTER – 7
Another typically tradesman-like performance after coming on midway through the first half to replace Collins. Finished with 12 runs for 88m and 31 tackles.
17 KEAON KOLOAMATANGI – 6.5
Looks to be thriving in the Kangaroos environment. Was good in his limited time in the first Test and this time got into the game in the first half and never took a backward step, clocking up 9 runs for 59m and 17 tackles.
KANGAROOS TEAM
1. Reece Walsh
2. Mark Nawaqanitawase
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Lindsay Collins
9. Harry Grant (c)
10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
11. Angus Crichton
12. Hudson Young
13. Patrick Carrigan
14. Tom Dearden
15. Lindsay Smith
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Keaon Koloamatangi
18. Bradman Best
19. Jacob Preston
20. Mitchell Moses
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