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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