Try-scorers: Scott Higginbotham and Will Genia both touched down
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Australia bounced back from their shock loss to Scotland with a morale-boosting 27-19 win over Wales at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.
What a difference four days makes, as the hosts dug deep to prove their doubters wrong and take a 1-0 lead in the series against this year's Six Nations Grand Slam champions.
Wales, who at one stage trailed by fourteen points (20-6), managed to claw their way back into the match and cut the deficit to one (20-19) in an absorbing encounter.
But a try by centre Pat McCabe in the 67th minute proved to be the killer blow as the Welsh slumped to their fifth straight defeat to Australia.
The Wallabies' win takes the heat off under-pressure coach Robbie Deans, whose side rebounded impressively from Tuesday's Scottish disaster with an enterprising ball-in-hand game plan at their Brisbane fortress.
Wales - desperate to end a 43-year drought Down Under - were forced to play catch-up rugby throughout, and it all started when Berrick Barnes opened the scoring with a straightforward penalty kick in the ninth minute.
Australia looked to have created a certain try when Rob Horne darted to the left, but Alex Cuthbert - outstanding for the visitors - prevented the scoring pass with a crucial tackle.
However, just moments later the Wallabies crossed following a series of drives from their forwards that ended with number eight Scott Higginbotham crashing over for his first Test try.
Barnes added the extras and Australia led 10-0 after 16 minutes.
Wales finally got themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of a Leigh Halfpenny, but the men in red were struggling to find any momentum against a Wallabies outfit playing with their tails up.
The tourists then suffered a major blow on the half-hour mark when destructive winger George North was replaced with a quad injury to put him in doubt for next week's second Test in Melbourne.
Trailing 10-3 at half-time, any thoughts of a second-half respite by Australia was extinguished immediately by Will Genia who needed less than a minute after the break to grab his team's second try.
The Wallaby scrum-half exploited space expertly and then effected an outrageous side-step to negotiate the last line of defence. The finish was a moment of individual brilliance and highlighted Genia's running threat as he dived over for the converted try to extend Australia's lead even further (17-3).
Another Halfpenny penalty was then cancelled out by a Barnes drop-goal, but Halfpenny again nudged Wales closer with a third penalty (20-9).
As the game went on, it was evident that the hosts began to tire in the second half and were not as effective at controlling the ball at close quarters. And as the game grew looser, Wales came into their own.
Ashley Beck replaced centre Scott Williams and with his first touch of the ball, put Cuthbert over for his fourth Test try. Halfpenny converted and added an excellent penalty from out wide to cut the deficit to 20-19 on 63 minutes.
Wales were eying a remarkable turnaround, but Australia showed their clinical edge when they needed it most. Genia was again the creator, picking his pass to McCabe who crashed over with thirteen minutes remaining.
Barnes converted and Australia were once again eight points ahead.
Twice Cuthbert threatened to break clear for a second try that Wales desperately needed, but was denied as Australia recovered to hold out for victory.
Man of the match: Alex Cuthbert was Wales' standout player,, while David Pocock, Scott Higginbotham, Berrick Barnes and Adam Ashley-Cooper all made significant contributions for Australia. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who gets our vote - Will Genia take a bow. Apart from his try, Genia looked every bit the general in the number nine position.
Moment of the match: Genia's try... pure magic.
Villain of the match: No malice to report!
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Higginbotham, Genia, McCabe
Cons: Barnes 3
Pens: Barnes
Drop: Barnes
For Wales:
Try: Cuthbert
Con: Halfpenny
Pen: Halfpenny 4
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Cooper Vuna, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu , 7 David Pocock (c), 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons , 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Alexander, Dave Dennis, 18 Michael Hooper, 19 Nic White, 20 Anthony Fainga'a, 21 Mike Harris.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Paul James, 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Ashley Beck.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Comments
Trader2 says...
Hi Trinats good to hear from you, I actually thought @anotherfarce was you in diguise i.e. will blame his teams failings on the referee. Anyway looking at the Wannabies last two games you will have plenty of oportunities to bash the refs later in the year I am sure. It's all about depth, depth, depth and depth and it is very clear, Oz just ain't got it.
Posted 04:05 13th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@Bazilldon, you are fairly new on here. You obviously don't know enough about rugby to sustain a long term interest in the game. Can we expect you to crawl back into your hole anytime soon? And you are right, though you sound a lot like the other Bazilldon prat, I wouldn't 3 whole pints before punching your lights out...and I'll bet the good men of Wales have made that point many a time when you come sideling up to them in the pub like a scurvey dog...you just get a boot in the ribs, right?
Posted 16:52 12th June 2012
Trinats2 says...
Trader2:
you sound almost normal. Have you increased your pill intake ? Well done, keep it up !!!
Posted 13:11 12th June 2012
Ramage says...
oh boy isnt the flak flying there is much I would like to add but it is not worth the effort as no coherent or logical argument has come from the potty mouth of bazilldon and others have summed up the situation well with both of those sad Welsh losers. Thank goodness the real Welsh supporters aren't as bad as those two. The ones I know are knowledgeable and courteous and have always enjoyed the banter It was really good to see that not only I though they were two drongs thanks for the support..
Posted 12:48 12th June 2012
Bazilldon says...
@new_j4a says: Sorry sunshine but that isn't me. Same username but I'm all about the rugby.
As for sounding like a prat, I've read your other posts, scared I'm giving you a run for your money? Jog on, dick!
Posted 12:17 12th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@Trader2, Agreed, plonker of the first order. Probably some kid who has barely played the game just trying to wind us up. Many Wales supporters have asked him to stfu as he is making a great rugby nation look like poor losers. Also, I am very sceptical that he has any ref experience....maybe the U10s in some godforsaken, rainswept Welsh valley on a Sunday?
Posted 09:56 12th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@bazilldon, is this you: https://twitter.com/#!/Bazilldon??? If so, it's no wonder you go on so much about football. It's your game. Here's a quote from your twitter account "The type of guy you want a beer with, but after the third beer, you want to punch right in the swede." This self description is so accurate that it must be you. So what are you doing on a rugby site Gareth Parry? Lost your way?
Posted 09:21 12th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@Bazilldon, It is you who sound like a football fan...read your own posts. When you are not sounding "holier than thou" you sound like a real prat. Actually, no, you sound like a real prat all the time.
Posted 09:13 12th June 2012
Trader2 says...
Apologies @anotherfarce inferring you were at the game, moot point though really and as ramage has accurately stated Wales were penalised for another incident and not for Haden cheating and yes I agree he did cheat. Point is Wales lost because they infringed not because the AB's "cheated" and you have been losing ever since really. If your reaction is typical of the Welsh reaction generally (and I don't think it is) well therein lies the problem for Welsh rugby and I can only admire Warren Gatland for having done such a great job with your boys despite having supporters like you to contend with.
@ramage and @new_j4a and others he really is a plonker isn't he? This started off after his blatant biased attack on Joubert, it is pathetic how sore losers will always seek to blame the refs. You have very succinctly explained the rules to anotherfarce but really he just will not get it.
Posted 01:19 12th June 2012
kiwilad says...
anotherfarce, so you somehow know more about what the referee saw than he knows himself???
I suspect you could have been one of those claiming Wales were the best team at the RWC in 2011, even though they lost 3 games???
Posted 00:56 12th June 2012
Bazilldon says...
@ramage. By the amount of arguments you're trying to justify on here just goes to show what a prize tool you are. Others on here disagree with the ref but don't resort to your level of vitriolic abuse.
Here's a thought, go support football if that's your attitude. They're used to mindless morons like yourself.
Posted 22:51 11th June 2012
isthatrightref says...
Plenty of evidence on here that you still don't beat Wales you just score more points than them... about the only thing I'd agree with is that Joubert could've pinged the oz front row more often but as for Pocock having his hands in the ruck, it ain't a ruck until there's 3+ players present i.e. if Pocockmakes the tackle, as soon as he lets the tackled player go & gets back to his feet - which atm he's doing quicker than any other 7 in the game, McCaw included - he's fully entitled to play the ball & the tackled player has to let it go or be penalised (or pinned as PRLive usually pust it). Not rocket science, don't understand how so many people incl some who claim to have refed the game can get something so basic so wrong.
Posted 22:23 11th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@anotherfart, you say "I watched the England/SA game later on in the evening which was a really good game. The ref was fair & even handed, and the result was the result, but sometimes you have to wonder whether they are on the take or gambling is involved because Joubert was really really bad. "
But sometimes you have to wonder whether you are just too emotionally involved to make a clear judgement...have you considered that. Here's a quick reality check: are you more or less likely to conclude that the ref was biased/crooked/incompetent when Wales is playing? How about when Wales is losing? Duh!
Posted 18:04 11th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@anotherfarce, you say..."The Welsh just knocked over your unbeatable baby blacks, in the U/20 JWC " GREAT!! We hope you guys in the NH will be competitive in a couple of years because we love rugby and it's no fun just rolling you over. The only thing that worries me is the possibility that ignorant refs and coaches.....like, well...yourself, for example....will get hold of the boys and REALLY screw them up
Posted 17:58 11th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@jontheref,
Can you please explain this point coherently (what are the 2 times? What are the 2 identical infringements. What are the 2 different treatments?):
"Joubert, inconsistent?
IMO yes, prime example, 5 mins to go, Wales attacking, speaks to 7 Gold!, as he had on numerous times, Aus get ball, kick chase, (which was better than Priestland's!), same situation in Wales 22 gains Aus a PK. "
Then please come up with several other inconsistencies so we can see a pattern.
Posted 17:40 11th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@anotherfarce, Who are you addressing? If you have reffed for 8 years, then I can tell all you Wales supporters EXACTLY what is wrong with Welsh rugby: your club refs don't understand the Laws of Rugby (or even that they are Laws and not "rules"). If your understanding of the Laws is anywhere near as poor as your understanding of the simple rules of English grammar, God help Welsh rugby. You say "while your at it gauge the reaction of the players after some of the calls." Is this how you ref? God help Welsh rugby!
Just come up with 3 example pairs of inconsistencies. Give the minute(s) of each pair and reference the Law. I bet you can't do it. (By the way, you can find the Laws (not rules) here: www.irb.com. There are even a couple of assessments you can take....which should tell you how ignorant you are, but also help you improve).
Posted 17:31 11th June 2012
new_j4a says...
@anotherfarce, If I understand you correctly, you have to go back 40 years to find....oh okay, I understand. It IS about that long since Wales played decent rugby. Hopefully when the wimps of your generation have all gone, Wales will revive and once again challenge on the world stage....
Posted 17:14 11th June 2012
Ramage says...
@ anotherfarce you really take the cake for one sided posts and really show your one eyed Welsh bias in your post over Haden. Let's get one thing straight what Haden did was ridiculous and not in the spirit of the game and many NZers have said so. There is more to this issue and anotherfarce the farce that you are perpetrating is that Haden was the only one who infringed in that lineout. Sorry to spoil your attempt to change history but the only person who controlled what happened in that situation was the referee Roger Quittendon. As a former referee you should know you penalise on what you see and not what everyone else sees. Quittendon in that lineout saw Wheel the Welsh lock use Oliver illegally as a lever to get himself up to palm the ball back and penalised him accordingly. He has said that is what he saw and did not see Andy Haden's theatrics. However seems those red spectacles are on anotherfarce and once again you totally ignore and fail to mention the Welsh illegality. This is typical of your posts. Sure Haden was trying to pull the wool over the ref's eyes but the ref's eyes were on the ball and he saw the illegal play of Wheel the Welsh lock and penalised him for that. So tell me why anotherfarce do you totally ignore this fact to try and score a petty point. Seems as a former referee you not only lack knowledge of the laws but your statements call into question your own partiality. As I said in an earlier post the fact you were a referee is irrelevant now as you show yourself as a Welsh supporter but one of those who cant see anything good of the other team or the referee if Wales lost The most telling point of all is that it is you who have called yourself anotherfarce lol. Yes indeed you are as your post is an absolute farce and make believe and that game is well and truly ancient history.
Posted 15:23 11th June 2012
Ramage says...
@anotherfarce I disagree with you completely, you show a total misunderstanding of the laws in regards to the tackle. I also speak with a wee bit of knowledge and yes I can be wrong. After 26 years of refereeing, playing the game, coaching and administering including some work on the judiciary, much of which was at at the same time The problem is you assume. Thanks for considering me to be a young man I chortled when I read that but thank you.
Your claims on Joubert are, I believe, untrue and are said, not as a former referee but, as a Welsh supporter.First,the Welsh were driving early, second your claim the Wallabies were never onside and only pinged once is really a gross exaggeration and finally your comments about Pocock which are similar to those thrown at McCaw show it is you that does not have a good grasp of rugby LAW (as a former referee I thought you would not use the word rules). Pocock is allowed to tackle a player and play the ball immediately so long as he releases the player and is on his feet. He is very quick and is more often than not is on his feet the player in the tackle not releasing the ball is pinged even if Pocock goes to ground. I like Joubert believe on most occasions the ruck had not been formed. Rather than being inconsistent Joubert was very consistent. the problem is you can't accept that Joubert was right. I ask you why so many International referees fail to ping players like McCaw and Pocock is it because out there on the field they know these players are correct and your interpretation is wrong? I saw a number of mistakes by Owens in the NZ Ireland game but believe, overall, he did a good job. There were mistakes, some I, could see why he ruled the way he did others I could be wrong and it was my perception. I finish and state I'm not an OZ supporter but hate unwarranted claims that SH refs are bordering on being cheats.
Posted 13:27 11th June 2012
blametheref says...
@tha_mai
Not having played for a few weeks is not the same as having a proper 8 weeks holiday away from all things rugby...Most NH players are now experiencing in less than a year 2 extended trips to the SH, amounting to more than 3 months of moveable hotel life in the SH in less than a year, there is no doubt some NH players need a rest and may be even weary
Posted 13:24 11th June 2012