IN a losing team there were some strong individual performances.

But the Wallabies were made to pay for a terrible lineout and the attack struggled, too.

Here are our player ratings from Australia’s 23-12 loss to the Springboks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (AEST).

Dane Haylett-Petty — 7.5
DHP has hardly put a step wrong since shifting from the wing to fullback and once again was very good.

His half break and offload to Reece Hodge in the 29th minute allowed the quick ball Will Genia wanted to capitalise on the space and score moments later.

Haylett-Petty lost a couple of marks though because he dropped one difficult high ball, found the touchline with a poor pass late in the first half and was penalised once for clearing the man beyond the breakdown.

But otherwise he was one of the Wallabies’ best.

Israel Folau — 5.5
His error in the 71st minute — as he attempted to burst onto a short ball from Kurtley Beale after the playmaker had made a break — somewhat summed up Folau’s match.

After being an active and constant threat against the Pumas a fortnight earlier on the wing, Folau was hardly sighted against the Springboks.

The Wallabies attempted to use his aerial ability early on, but he wasn’t able to have much success getting a clean run at the ball.

On the one occasion the Wallabies kicked to him in an attacking position, Beale’s effort wasn’t deep enough and Folau was tackled a couple of metres short of the line.

Reece Hodge — 7
Ran strongly all night in midfield and scored the Wallabies’ first try.

Probably needed to hang on to the ball in the 18th minute after finding space out wide, but looked for the miracle pass to Folau on the inside and the play broke down.

Matt Toomua — 6
Started to run more in the second half.

But the Wallabies’ playmakers needed to do that earlier in the match, as well as look for inside runners rather than always spreading the ball wide.

Toomua missed a couple of shots at goal in the first half too.

Marika Koroibete — 7.5
Had two standout moments which deserve praise.

His trysaving tackle on Siya Kolisi in the 17th minute was brilliant, as he came from behind and tackled the loose forward.

And later in the first half, he delivered the perfect inside ball for Genia to score.

Unfortunately Koroibete was forced to leave the field due to concussion shortly after and never returned.

Kurtley Beale — 5
Has the Beale experiment come to an end?

Selected at fly-half for the third consecutive Test, Beale’s night got off to the worst possible start as Dyantyi intercepted his attempted cut out pass and scored after just 30 seconds.

In the opening minutes of a Test you need to play for field position nine times out of 10.

He didn’t, and the Wallabies paid the price.

Beale was also perhaps guilty of kicking the ball away too much in the first half.

And in the second half, the Wallabies were too lateral in attack.

It was only as the clock began to tick down that Beale began to straighten the attack and run the ball to the line.

That needed to occur earlier.

Will Genia — 8
Another quality performance from Australia’s halfback.

His vision and pass to Hodge for the Wallabies’ first try was top drawer.

Genia then showed why he remains one of the world’s best halfbacks as he played down Koroibete’s blindside before receiving the ball back on the inside to score the Wallabies’ second.

David Pocock — 8.5
The Wallabies’ best against.

When the going was tough for the Wallabies during the first 20 minutes, it was Pocock who got them out of trouble.

He two breakdown penalty wins in quick succession (13 and 15th minute) near his own goal line were immense.

Later, in the 39th minute, he made another crucial breakdown penalty win.

Pocock’s defence and ball carrying were strong too.

Michael Hooper — 7
This was Hooper’s best performance since coming back from his hamstring injury.

Hooper’s speed and explosive qualities set him apart from the world’s other top opensides and he used those strengths to good effect.

His mini break in the first half was influential in leading to the Wallabies’ opening try.

And in the second half he made three crucial runs, as well as a fine kick which Genia collected.

Hooper’s defence and efforts in slowing down the ruck, even though he didn’t get a steal, were also influential.

Ned Hanigan — 5.5
Played a bit like Boks rival Pieter-Steph du Toit, but won’t get the plaudits.

Every team needs someone like Hanigan who is hitting rucks as his core job.

So Hanigan was solid in his return to the starting side.

He was also useful at the lineout and carried the ball occasionally.

Adam Coleman — 5
Returning to the starting side, Coleman pulled off a vital lineout steal in the eighth minute.

His defence was very strong and he brought some physicality to the Wallabies’ pack.

But the Wallabies’ lineout struggled again and, as the set piece caller, must bear some responsibility for that.

Izack Rodda — 5
Pretty good in general play.

But his poor pass to Folau Fainga’a after a clever lineout move was unnecessary and added to the Wallabies set piece woes.

His jumping timing at lineouts was slightly off too.

Taniela Tupou — 6.5
The Wallabies’ scrum was outstanding from start to finish and Tupou deserves credit for that.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to see him running in much space.

But that’s Test rugby.

Overeall, a great shift in his first Test start.

Folau Fainga’a — 3
To be fair to Fainga’a, the Springboks’ defensive lineout is just about the best in the world.

But his lineout struggles really hurt the Wallabies.

Fainga’a lost a handful of throws and compounded one of them in the 11th minute by tackling the man in the air to give away a penalty.

In the end, Hooper opted for scrums midway through the second half because they couldn’t trust their lineout throw.

Fainga’a also missed a crucial tackle on Handre Pollard, which allowed the fly-half space that resulted in a try to Faf de Klerk.

Scott Sio — 6
See Tupou, T.

Good shift.

RESERVES

Brandon Paenga-Amosa — 5
Came on in the 63rd minute but wasn’t able to produce a Codie Taylor or Jamie George moment and provide huge impact.

But then again, his playing style is more suited to starting a match rather than finishing it.

Sekope Kepu — 6.5
Came on in the 50th minute and provided great impact.

The scrum continued to fire too.

Allan Alaalatoa — 6
Like Kepu, Alaalatoa came on in the 50th minute and performed strongly.

Rory Arnold — 4
Came on late and knocked the ball on with one of his first touches under no real pressure.

Rob Simmons — N/A
Came on late and was solid.

Nick Phipps — N/A
Came on in the final 10 minutes.

Wasn’t afforded much space around the ruck to run.

Bernard Foley — 5
Entered the game midway through the second half for Jack Maddocks.

Had one fumble which allowed the Springboks more time to slide in defence.

Jack Maddocks — 5.5
Came on after half an hour after Koroibete’s head knock, but wasn’t able to have the same impact off the bench as he has of late.