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Wallabies finally show capabilities in dismantlling Wales in Cardiff
Man of the Match Matt Giteau during Australia's win over Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
FINALLY it all came together _ attack, defence and total physical and mental domination _ as the Wallabies ended their tour of Britain with a brilliant 33-12 victory over Wales at Millennium Stadium this morning.
Australian rugby fans might have preferred their side not save its best until last but this was a performance well worth waiting for and ensured Rocky Elsom Wallabies can return home from their nearly-Grand Slam tour with their heads held high.
Two wins, against England and Wales, an unlucky draw against Ireland and an even unluckier loss last week to Scotland certainly fall short of the hoped-for clean sweep but only two of the other sides to leave Australia's shores in quest of a Grand Slam _ Andrew Slacks triumphant 1984 squad and Bill McLeans 1947-48 team _ have achieved better results.
With Man of the Match Matt Giteau answering his critics in the most emphatic means possible, the Wallabies led from start to finish against a side that has beaten then twice over the past four years.
But as brilliantly as Giteau performed, having a direct hand or, in the first instance, right foot _ in three of Australia's four tries, the Man of the Match judges must have had a difficult time settling on him ahead of his halves partner Will Genia whose value to this Wallabies side just grows and grows.
Not only does he do everything required of a world-class halfback, but he defended like a tiger, leapt like a gazelle for the high ball and took the right options with such uncanny regularity that the Wallabies today simply didn't have to dig themselves out so many holes these days.
This was a victory build wall-to-wall heroes, with the Wallabies time and again lifting themselves in defence to keep their line intact. Indeed, it scarcely seems possible this team completed this tour of Britain and Ireland with only two Test tries being scored against them, but still with no Grand Slam to show for their efforts.
This was arguably the most complete performance the Wallabies have ever put together under Robbie Deans, with the scrum destroying Wales to earn two penalties, three points, two free kicks, a turnover and a massive psychological advantage that permeated to every nook and cranny of this pulsating contest.
Wales, in response, showed nothing, with their coach Warren Gatland describing this match as his sides worst performance in two years under him, but Deans rightly countered that the home side played only as well as the Wallabies allowed them _ which is to say, hardly at all.
The Wallabies first half was arguably as good a 40-minute spell as they have put together all year yet, for all their physical, territorial and psychological domination, they went into the sheds with only an 11-point advantage up their sleeve.
That was nowhere near what they deserved after scoring three excellent tries but, as ever, every time they threatened to break away from Wales, they allowed their opponents just to stay in touch through the boot, primarily, of five-eighth Stephen Jones.
Never was that more evident than in the final minute of the half when fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper fielded a kick deep inside his own 22 but, even with all the time in the world to get away his kick, failed to find touch. Back came Wales, back came another high ball and this time when Ashley-Cooper caught it, halfback Will Genia was penalised for going off his feet to seal off the ruck.
Jones resulting penalty goal pegged back the Australian lead to 23-12 but even despite that mishap, it would be churlish to be more than mildly critical of the Wallabies for what was otherwise an outstanding half of rugby.
Admittedly it began on an ill-omened note when Giteau overcooked the kickoff and put it into touch but when Wales were penalised from the resulting scrum on halfway, up stepped the little Wallabies general to exorcise the ghosts of Murrayfield by booting a goal many critics would have considered beyond his range.
Giteau struck another telling blow in the seventh minute when he grubbered in behind a rattled Welsh defence after winger Drew Mitchell had spearheaded a slick Australian raid. His angled kick could not have bounced more kindly for outside centre Digby Ioane and for once Australia was able to put the ball down over the tryline without any of the usual dramas.
It wasn't long before the Wallabies, cashing in on their utter dominance and fierce physicality up front front, notched their second try, this time with huge second-rower James Horwill acting as winger to score in the corner on the back of excellent ball-handling from props Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson and Mitchell.
Then, right on the halfhour, something remarkable happened _ a TMO decision went Australia's way. Not that there was any doubt that flanker David Pocock had slam-dunked the ball beside the posts after Australia's forwards had rumbled right over the top of the Welsh pack.
The Wallabies should have learned the lesson that attacking rugby is its own reward but they began the second half in a defensive frame of mind, intent only on securing good field position. It was a tactic that could have opened the door for Wales but fullback James Hook and Jones both missed with penalty goals shots.
But it was only with ball in hand that the Wallabies retreated into their shell. In defence they were brutal, forcing turnover after turnover. In the end, something had to give under the relentless pressure and from one turnover Cooper quickly moved the ball wide to Giteau who stepped off his left foot and speared straight through a yawning gap to send replacement hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau scampering over for the Wallabies fourth try.
Apart from a third Giteau penalty goal, that was to be the only score of the second half for the Wallabies but in the end it proved more than enough, with their heroic defence repeatedly hurling back the red wave as it came crashing towards their tryline. Indeed, so totally in command was the gold defence that in one frenetic two minute period, they drove Wales back 30m from their own line before stealing yet another turnover and driving the ball to within two metres of the Welsh line.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news...-1225805012821
It means nothing if he plays shit for a whole season and suddenly he is king because he had a good game He has the ability and talent to play like that every game so what has he been payed for the whole season
I though Genia was named Man of the Match??
Bam was definitely man of the first half!!
'God invented beer to prevent Props from taking over the world'
i missed the first half, why did pocock go off?
he injured himself scoring the rty but he only got replaced halftime
Thumb injury. Giteau definitely played his best test in a while- as Peter says though one good game doesn't mean redemption.
I thought Ben Robinson should have been MOM. He owned his opposite number (Paul James?) in the scrums and had a hand in the second try. God its funny watching him run he really does look like Fat Cat. He was getting to a lot of breakdowns and being a big pain in the ass.
The backs seemed a little bit haphazard at times (no surprise that 3 of the 4 tries were scored by forwards) hopefully they'll all mature a bit with another S14 under their belts.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Pocock looked to have dislocated his thumb in a tackle maul not related to his try, if he had stayed on i reckon he would have got man of the match. He was in everything. The Welsh coach must have been happy when he didnt come back after the half, then again his replacement was just as handy disrupting the breakdown!!
Generally speaking you aren’t learning much if your lips are moving!!!
It looked like it was his neck that was a bit sore after the try. The thumb definitely looked like the main reason for going off though. Safety first I guess if you've got Smith on the bench you may as well use him.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
The win was based on a dominant front row, an incredible forty by a gutsy Pocock, an almost as impressive forty by his replacement Smith and then Giteau playing to the standard that his billing requires him to be at consistently, with the ball won for him by the above mentioned.
I was impressed with his match, especially his decision making and commitment to the breakdown. We must have a right footed goal kicker, which is Barnes, if we are to ensure victory in the tight ones. The left of field seems to be where most of our goal opportunities are coming from and this is undoubtedly a problem for him.
I think it will come out that while Pocock was injured scoring the try, thanks to a late body slam, he also carried a severely dislocated thumb for the last ten minutes of the half.
Despite the articles fair appraisal of Genia's great match, the decision was actually between Giteau, Pocock and Smith. Had either Openside played a few minutes more in the other half they would have had the nod. The selector was the Ten/WIN broadcast special comments man and he deliberated on it on air immediately before you heard the announcement at the ground.
Some credit should also go to a marked improvement on past matches for the lineout, though in equal portions to a bit of disarray for the Welsh.
It does the heart good to see those Wombles running like Backrowers, not knocking on, not pulling the scrum down, not giving away penalties at every breakdown they touch, not huffing and puffing like world beaters and playing like faggots.
The base is there to be seen now, there are still some pieces to be brought together, especially Barnes pushing himself out one slot and Sharpe taking control of the lineout, however, there is far greater hope to be found in this display than in the rest of the season, including the Brisbane match.
Well done boys, hold your heads (slightly) high(er).
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
One thing Genia did that was great was taking the high balls. Credit to him as a scrumhalf to take so many so comfortably.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Painfull to watch for WRF.
No super Shane wasn't helping, then Halfpenny goes as well.
Good win to the Wallabies, great defence.
It will only make you stronger WRF....
George Smith was brilliant in the break down in the second half... its not a wonder the Welsh didn't score a point in the second half... A few nice brumbies combos working in the second half with Smith, Giteau, Rocky and AAC... Bring o the S14 and fast forward this cricket claptrap….
---------- Post added at 19:34 ---------- Previous post was at 19:26 ----------
WRF surely you don't expect your slight Welsh wingers to save the red dragon?
Last edited by mudskipper; 29-11-09 at 19:32.
It was great seeing Williams at anthem time next to the locks - like a wee babby!!
'God invented beer to prevent Props from taking over the world'