Dragons edge Wallabies

Dragons edge Wallabies

29 Nov 2008

Wales survived a late Australian barrage to claim a 21-18 win in Cardiff.

Wales started the better of the two sides scoring the first try in just the fourth minute.

Stirling Mortlock departed with barely two minutes on the board when he collided with Jamie Roberts and just two minutes later newly crowned IRB Player of the Year Shane Williams started and finished a well constructed move by freeing Lee Byrne and Jamie Roberts before popping up on the wing to score.

A sloppy lineout from the Welsh let Australia back in the game when Mark Chisholm pounced on the loose ball and ran all of 70 metres for a great solo try. When Matt Giteau added the extras the Wallabies had the lead.

Wales were dominant at the breakdown, but despite all their possession, it was Australia who extended their lead through a brilliant Giteau drop-goal.

The Dragons came back in style, first through a Stephen Jones penalty and then through a try from fullback Byrne. Jones slotted the conversion and Wales had a five-point lead which they held until the break.

Jones missed two easy penalties at the start of the half and Giteau later cut the lead to just two points with a 46th minute penalty.

Wales were under immense pressure, but were able to repel wave after wave of Australian attack, and Jones made amends for his earlier misses with a cheeky 67th minute drop-goal.

Another Jones penalty with time running out looked to have secured the result, but Australia threw everything they had at the Dragons.

The Wallabies finally managed to break the Welsh defence when winger Digby Ioane crossed for a late try, but Giteau missed the conversion.

Wales - Tries: Shane Williams, Lee Bryne. Conversions: Stephen Jones. Penalties: Jones (2). Drop goal: Jones.
Australia – Tries: Mark Chisholm, Digby Ioane. Conversions: Matt Giteau. Penalties: Giteau. Drop goal: Giteau.


48 Comments

  • 1.AndrewBK: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:23 pm

    Erm… Dragons?

  • 2.superBul: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:23 pm

    DRAGS

  • 3.Insomniac: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:29 pm

    phucking A!

  • 4.Jinxie: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:30 pm

    Phew! Interesting…

    Well done Taffs for putting the Convicts in their place.

    I thought Oz would take this one.

    Hmmm, quite pleased actually.

  • 5.Insomniac: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:30 pm

    and da Babaas awaits….

  • 6.RedBull : Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:32 pm

    Well their luck finally ran out – right now the Itallians and the Frogs are phuking their guts out. How could they not put away these criminals?

    Congrats Wales the best 6N team getting one over the weakest 3N team.

  • 7.Insomniac: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:36 pm

    now wales must keep it up…french and irish to get back to their best. scotland….well…ja

  • 8.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 18:46 pm

    Congrats to Wales

  • 9.bok and lion fan: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:11 pm

    Wouldn’t the score have been 21-19 if the conversion was to have leveled the scores? Otherwise it woulda been 21-20 and Wales would’ve won anyway

  • 10.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:14 pm

    Why didn’t Git pass it wide at the end with the 2 man overlap?

  • 11.Skim: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:15 pm

    Hahaha!! So much for the Southern domination theory…. shame on you Aus!

  • 12.Skim: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:16 pm

    On which channel was this game broadcasted? I couldn’t find it on SS?

  • 13.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:17 pm

    #9 bok and lion fan:
    I don’t get it either. I know that Giteau messed up a great opportunity at the end but that was not passing it

  • 14.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:18 pm

    #12 Skim:
    Was on the internet

  • 15.Skim: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:19 pm

    They probably don’t bother broadcasting these games between two minnows….

  • 16.Skim: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:20 pm

    I see…..

  • 17.seamus: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:21 pm

    Oh what a perfect day… both the Convicts and the Warders get beaten

  • 18.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:22 pm

    I have to say that the last try to Aus looked like a double movement

  • 19.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:24 pm

    Wales failed to win by +15 points so the top 4 sides remain unchanged

    England, Wales, France and Ireland are all in pot 2

  • 20.ziyaad: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:30 pm

    #9 bok and lion fan:

    Also noticed that. Can someone clear that up?

  • 21.ziyaad: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:32 pm

    #19 church – like chch but pronounceable:

    Having Argentina as a top seed is dangerous.

    Will probably be:

    NZ, Ireland
    SA, France,
    Aus, Wales
    Arg, Eng

    How the hell can England still be top 6 material?

  • 22.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 19:41 pm

    #21 ziyaad:

    This year teh draw is different. 1st does not play 8th …. all random for each pot of 4 sides (5 pots)

  • 23.grant10: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 20:36 pm

    puts bokswin over eng and wales in perspective we the best….grant!!!!!!!

  • 24.Jinxie: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 21:13 pm

    #17 seamus:

    :lol:

  • 25.tokolosi: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 21:34 pm

    great match, really enjoyed it

  • 26.SAussie/QldRed: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 22:27 pm

    #4 Jinxie: Well, I think the Welsh should be thanking the man in the middle, Congats to the Welsh but they did play well, its a shame that we couldn’t have a ref who chooses to see pedantic decisions to try and make himself seem intellectual. The signs are good for the Wallabies but, the Squad will be even better in 09. Not much Gap between the AB’s and us now with Deans in charge and Bokk fans, I wouldn’t be sitting smug, you might delight in us losing but you know we are a **** hot team that can more than match you

  • 27.Ian: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 22:54 pm

    #4 Jinxie: I wouldn’t open my big mouth too soon if I was you Jinx. You came last in the Tri Nations.

  • 28.whatever: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 22:56 pm

    Yeeeeh hahhhhhh, well done Wales. Quade Cooper is going to get put on his pants by someone soon……..

  • 29.TheBoksAreBack: Reply to this comment
    29 Nov 2008, 23:09 pm

    Not sure why anyone would think Aus would have won this. Actually they did pretty well to come so close – Deans effect I guess.

    Well done Wales

  • 30.SexyTime: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 00:36 am

    REALLY pisses me off that this game wasn’t broadcasted. REALLY.

  • 31.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 01:09 am

    #30 SexyTime:

    Get your wallet out cheapskate…

  • 32.horiman: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 02:08 am

    Henry’s endorsement earlier in the week obviously spurred to Taffy’s on. Which is unusual, GH rarely makes protestations about a teams chances, especially if they do not involve the AB’s. I guess if you are the IRB coach of the year you are entitilled to offer an opinion. I would have preferred if he had remained silent on the matter. Naturally, I’m disappointed for the Aussies. A clean sweep would have been great. It would have been nice to put those NH imposter’s in their rightful place.

  • 33.SAussie/QldRed: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:05 am

    #27 Ian: Hi guys, I think we did do well considering we lost Mortlock in the first few seconds, #28 whatever: He did great I thought, played better than Tahu I thought

  • 34.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:06 am

    #26 SAussie/QldRed:

    You opened with complaining about the referee. Maybe you and the English can start a therapy group.

    Is Jinxie from NZ?

  • 35.SAussie/QldRed: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:42 am

    #33 church – like chch but pronounceable: On second thought a good team should overcome the ref, I wasn’t giving Wales the credit that they deserved, On the whole the ref didn’t do too bad. Just reflecting what has happend in 08 and the improvements made put a smile on my face, more than made up for the disapointment of losing today

  • 36.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:52 am

    #34 SAussie/QldRed:

    My thoughts the same. The ABs had 80 minutes to beat France, the idea is to take the referee out of the equation

    I see you have had a name change. You in Brisbane?
    I am just off for a run up Mount Coutha now

  • 37.SAussie/QldRed: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:57 am

    #35 church – like chch but pronounceable: sure am, north, Isn’t a bit hot to be running in this weather?

    Are there any Wesh bloggers on this site?

  • 38.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 05:59 am

    Credit to the Welsh, an important win for them.
    It would have been a very different result if Mortlock had been on the field.

    Australia’s depth in the centres finally ran dry with Barnes, Tahu, Ashley-Cooper and then Mortlock down, and this decided the outcome of the game.
    No team should be reduced to having to play Quade Cooper at inside centre.
    Wallabies are not looking too bad for the next couple of years, as long as we can build some depth in key positions, especially the inside backs

  • 39.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 06:00 am

    #36 SAussie/QldRed:

    There used to be Welsh bloggers.

    It is hot. I am hoping for some sort or sauna weight loss effect at the same time :-)

  • 40.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 06:02 am

    #37 DonutDunning:

    You are stating the obvious with DonutDunning ……why not just TheDonut? (not that I can comment on thread names)

  • 41.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 06:06 am

    #39 church – like chch but pronounceable: Haha true, once you say Donut there’s no real need to say who you’re talking about. I just like the way it rolls off the tongue

  • 42.husky: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 07:06 am

    Interesting that SA beat the Welsh who beat the Oz who beat SA.

    Does this mean SA is improving since the 3N?

  • 43.RugbyRulz: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 07:12 am

    #41 husky: Oh definitely. Only one way SA could go after the Tri Nations performance.

  • 44.brentie: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 09:07 am

    The Welsh game was one too many for the Aussies after 4 they were
    reading all press, simply running out of steam.I cannot understand
    why they agreed to play 5.

  • 45.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 09:29 am

    #43 brentie: Because it’s the only game time they’ll get.
    The Boks and ABs went back to the CC and Air NZ cup after the 3N finished, while the Wallabies hadn’t had a chance to do anything but train.
    Shutting down the ARC after only one season was a big mistake. Yes it had overextended itself a little in its setup (Melbourne and Perth teams recorded big financial losses), but it showed a lot of promise even if they cut it back a little.
    Considering the lineup of the backline by halftime through all the injuries, I think the Wallabies did well not to lose by a whole lot more.

  • 46.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 11:54 am

    gees, Wallaby supporters are starting to sound like English supporters, think they call that the “Big Hit” effect :lol: :lol:

  • 47.goyougoodthingPlumtree: Reply to this comment
    30 Nov 2008, 16:43 pm

    #30 SexyTime: ja me too

  • 48.Hurricane: Reply to this comment
    1 Dec 2008, 06:57 am

    #23 grant10:
    IRB ranking.
    NZ #1……..Hurricane

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